Trip to Newcastle / Biddulph 30-07-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67601	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	22	First Potteries
53058	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop R	21A	First Potteries
160	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop O	Newcastle BS	Nines	D&G
32080	Newcastle BS	Burslem, Town Hall (stop G)	98	First Potteries
65727	Burslem, Wedgwood Street (stop A)	Tunstall, Adj Stop M	3	First Potteries
66304	Tunstall, Adj Stop B	Hanley BS	3	First Potteries
32078	Hanley BS	Biddulph, Adj Somerfield Store	7A	First Potteries
32080	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries
65706	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	25	First Potteries

Today we decided to stay local. We checked the weather and it was for warm dry weather with sunny intervals. We gave Matthew a short list of place in the Midlands and North West and from the list he chose Stoke! Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just after 12:00 to the stop all the way over on Magdalen Road and whilst we waited we saw First Potteries 67635 on a Longton bound #22 service. A short while later we saw the bus turned the corner. It was dud First Potteries 67601 on a #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67601 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked a Smart Day ticket at £5.30 before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off onto the A5035 and we ran over the railway line into Trentham. At the Trenhtam Hotel we saw Free Spirits minibus MK52 PXH parked up. We turned right into. New In lane and as we went down I noticed someone looking down the road as if there was another bus behind us. We got to The Man in Space and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67601 as it carried on towards Newcastle.

First Potteries 67601 in Trentham

Right behind u s was a Solo on a Hanley service. As it got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 53058 on a #21A service.

First Potteries 53058 in Trentham

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus was already partially loaded when we got on it. The bus set off up New Inn Land and into Hanford. We turned right into Wilson Road and then we turned left onto Church Lane. We lane down the hill and we joined the Northbound A34. We crossed under the A500 into Trent Vale and we saw First Potteries 67603 on the other #22 turn running towards Longton. We turned right into London Road by the black Lion and we ran the couple of miles into Stoke town centre where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture First Potteries 53058 before it carried on towards Hanley.

First Potteries 53058 in Stoke

We walked along Campbell Place and around the corner into Church Street and into the Stoke Cafe. Matthew went to the toilet and then we ordered breakfast. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished eating we went out onto Church Street. As we came out we saw a D&G Versa approaching on the #9 to Clayton. As it got closer we saw that it was required D&G 160.

D&G 160 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Church Street and up Hartshill Bank. We turned left into Queens Road and Left again into Princes Road. We went into the centre of Penkhull and we turned right Newcastle Lane. At the roundabout we turned right onto Hilton Road and then we turned left into the hospital. After running through the hospital we turned right onto the A34. We ran up into Newcastle and onto Barracks Road and we entered the bus station from the South. We let the bus empty and we Matthew took a picture inside D&G 160.

Inside D&G 160

We got off the bus and we walked down to the bottom end of the bus station whilst we decided on what to do next. Whilst we waited we saw dud First Potteries 53208 on a #72 to Clayton Village.

First Potteries 53208 in Newcastle bus station

A few minutes later we saw Roseville minibus NU61 VJX heading onto Barracks Road.

Roseville NU61 VJX in Newcastle bus station

We also saw dud First Potteries 65034 on a #101 to Hanley.

First Potteries 65034 in Newcastle bus station

We saw an ALX400 double decker approaching from the north end of the bus station so we walked onto Stubbs Street to wait fr it approach. When we got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 32080 coming in to work a #98 to Ball Green.

First Potteries 32080 in Newcastle bus station

Right behind the double decker was required First Potteries 65035 on a #101 to Stafford.

First Potteries 65035 in Newcastle bus station

We walked up to the top end of the bus station and by the time we got there the bus was already loading up. We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day tickets to the driver to the driver before we went upstairs. As the top deck was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 32080.

Inside First Potteries 32080

We set off out of Newcastle bus station and onto Barracks Road past the building site of a new council building. We went forwards onto the A527 and through May Bank into Wolstanton. We turned right onto Porthill bank and we crossed the A500 and into Longport. At Trubshaw cross we turned right onto Newcastle Road. We ran up the hill into Burslem town centre and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 32080 before it carried on towards Ball Green.

First Potteries 32080 in Burslem

We were now going to Tunstall to go and get cake so we walked around the corner to wait for the bus. The service is now only every 15 minutes. We had around 10 minutes to wait for the next bus. A few minutes later we could see a bus approaching through Cobridge. As it got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 65727.

First Potteries 65727 in Burslem

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus was well filled so we only just managed to get a seat. The bus set off up Scotia Road and past the old Burslem PMT bus garage. We turned left onto Williamson Street and then right onto Tunstall High Street. At the top of the High Street we got up and got off the bus. Matthew then took another picture of First Potteries 65727 before it carried on towards Crewe.

First Potteries 65727 in Tunstall

We walked down to the Tunstall Cafe and Matthew used the toilet. They had ran out of toffee cheesecake so Matthew had to settle foe just a glass of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye and we crossed the Street to wait for another bus. Across the road we saw First Potteries 67634 on a #3 to Talke Pitts.

First Potteries 67634 in Tunstall

A few minutes later we saw a red fronted Volvo come around the corner. As iy got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 66304.

First Potteries 66304 in Tunstall

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. Once again the bus was full and Uncle Dave had to stand for a short while. We went down the High Street and we turned left into Williamson Street. We turned right into Scotia Road and we ran into Burslem town centre. We continued into Cobridge and down into Hanley. We joined Hope Street and we ran forwards to Stafford Street. After going past town hall we entered the bus station via Bagnall Street. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 66304.

Inside First Potteries 66304

Once off the bus Matthew visited the toilet and then we headed over to the car park to take a few bus pictures. On the way over we saw First Potteries 41501 on layover.

First Potteries 41501 in Hanley bus station

We went into John Street car park and we climbed the steps to the next level. Almost as soon as we got there we saw Arriva Midlands 3695 go on layover after working the #164 from Market Drayton.

Arriva Midlands 3695 in Hanley bus station

We then saw First Potteries 32054 on a #5 to Abbey Hulton. We also saw D&G 170 which was on a #43 to Badderley Green.

D&G 170 in Hanley bus station

Matthew ate a packet of milky Stars and then drank a can of Irn Bru. We decided to head back to the bus station, and on the way we saw First Potteries 32057 on a #8A to Endon.

First Potteries 32057 in Hanley bus station

We crossed over John Street and we saw D&G 165 on a #16 to Leek.

D&G 165 in Hanley bus station

We went back to the bus station and we went to the shop where Matthew picked up a can of Coke and a bottle of Irn Bru. He also picked up a couple of chocolate bars. We decided to wait for a #7A to Biddulph. We turned down First Potteries 32053 which was on the #8 to Ball Green and we waited for the next bus which was dud First Potteries 32078 on the #7A to Biddulph.

First Potteries 32078 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 32078.

Inside First Potteries 32078

We set off out of the bus station down John Street and onto Bethesda Street. We went across onto Marsh Street and then we turned right into Trinity Street. We turned left into Stafford Street and we continued forwards to Quadrant Road and we left Hanley along Town Road. We traveled through Sneyd Green and over Smallthorne roundabouts to Chell. At the roundabout we turned right and we ran down the A527 through Brindley Ford. We turned left to run through Brown Lees. We crossed over the A527 at Knypersley and we ran around through the housing estates of Biddulph, past the funfair on Church Road before running into town via St John's Road, Colliers Way and up Wharf Road to the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 32078 before it carried on back towards Hanley.

First Potteries 32078 in Biddulph bus station

We visited the toilet and then we walked onto the high Street to the kebab shop. We brough a couple of portions of fried and some cans of pop an we walked back to the bus station. On the way to the shelter we saw dud D&G Bus 161 on the #9 to Hanley.

D&G 161 in Biddulph bus station

We went into the shalter and we shared the fries between the three of us. We also had a can of pop each. There was a #7A due at 17:09 and the D&G Nines service was due at 17:10. The Nines service arrived first and it was required D&G 119.

D&G 119 in Biddulph bus station

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus and he said no. A few minutes later the First Potteries bus appeared and it was dud First Potteries 32080 that we had been on from Newcastle to Burslem earlier in the day!

First Potteries 32080 in Biddulph bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus set off onto High Street and we turned left onto Well Street. We ran around the estate and we crossed over the A527 at Knypersley We ran through Brown Lees and we rejoined the A527 by the industrial estate. We ran down through Brindley Ford and Fegg Hayes and then we ran up the hill to Chell. We turned left onto High Lane and we ran back through Smallthorne & Sneyd Green into Hanley. When we got back to Hanley we walked down to the bottom stands to catch something towards Newcastle. We saw required 65730 on a #4 to Audley. We were distracted by a coach that came into the bus station on the top stand. It was Skills of Nottingham BX16 CHK on a national Express #384 to Birmingham. By the time we got back down to the #4 service it had just left the stand. On stand at the bottom end of the bus station was First Potteries 65706 on a #25 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 65706 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day tickets to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We ran down through Stoke and we saw a gold coloured Setra parked behind the back of the North Staffs Hotel. We went into Stoke into Stoke town centre and Hartshill through the hospital and into Newcastle. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 65706.

Inside First Potteries 65706

We had arrange to meet mum in the Ironmarket, so we walked past the building site and around the corner to met her. Once we got to the ar Matthew had a Wrights mini sausage roll and a bottle of Irn Bru. We set off onto barracks Road and onto the A34. We ran past hospital and into Trent Vale. We stopped at the chip shop for some chips and then we continued down the A34 to the roundabout. We joined the Northbound A500 and we passed a white coach with a golden eagle logo and a gold and maroon stripe. At Sideway we went east on the A50 and we passed Alfa coach 66. We came off the A50 and we went to Z Carz to see what was parked up there today. In the first row was Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LFY.

Z Carz HK57 LFY in Longton

Also on the first row was Z Carz Ford minibus GL04 CVE.

Z Carz GL04 CVE in Longton

At the near end of the first row was Z Carz LDV minibus PN06 ONM.

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

At the back of the site was Z Carz Iveco minibus YJ53 WPD.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

A minibus that I can't remember seeing before is Z Carz silver Renault minibus DS07 LSN.

Z Carz DS07 LSN in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was parked up the compound. Parked in the Street was Z Carz Renault minibus BU04 GYW.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

We headed back onto the A50 and we ran up to Heron Cross. We acme off the A50 and we joined Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and we turned right into Church Road. We turned right into Beaconsfield Drive and we saw First Potteries 41512 on a #23 to Hanley. We got home around 19:00. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a caramel slice. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark