Trip to Newcastle / Biddulph 06-08-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67640	Blurton. adj Ladybank Grove	Longton TI	22	First Potteries
67602	Longton TI	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	2	First Potteries
67637	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	2	First Potteries
41498	Newcastle BS	Burslem, Town Hall (stop G)	98	First Potteries
66849	Burslem, Wedgwood Street (stop A)	Tunstall, Adj Stop M	3	First Potteries
43876	Tunstall, Adj Stop B	Newcastle BS	99	First Potteries
67635	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	4	First Potteries
53041	Hanley BS	Biddulph BS	7A	First Potteries
41498	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries
32057	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	25	First Potteries

Today we decided to stay local again. The car has a few issues where the car is drive-able but we didn't want to go too far. We checked the weather for today and it was for dry weather with sunny intervals. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set of on foot to the bus stop all the way over on Beaconsfield Drive. As we waited for the next bus to Longton, we saw First Potteries 67641 on a #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67641 in Blurton

A few minutes alter we saw dud First Potteries 67640 come around the corner on the #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 67640 in Blurton

We got on the bus and and we booked a Smart Day ticket at £5.30 before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off up Beaconsfield Drive and we ran to the other end. We turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we turned left onto Blurton Road. At the bottom of the hill we turned right onto Longton Hall Road and we climbed the hill and forwards onto Heathcote Road. We joined the high level A50 and we ran to the roundabout. We crossed over the A50 and we ran onto Baths Road before entering Longton Transport Interchange. We let the bus empty before Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 67640.

Inside First Potteries 67640

When we got into the Interchange there were 3 buses there. First Potteries 67640 was about to work the #22 back to Newcastle, First Potteries 67633 was on a #2 service to Hanley and First Potteries 67602 was on a #2 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67602 in Longton Interchange

We decided to do this bus so we got on and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back. The bus set off out of the Interchange onto Baths Road and we went under the railway bridge onto King Street. We ran down through Fenton and we went over the roundabout onto City Road. We went down to the bottom of the hill and we joined the A52, running under the railway line into Stoke town centre. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67602 before it carried on towards Newcastle.

First Potteries 67602 in Stoke

Once off the bus we walked down Church Street and we Went into the Stoke Cafe. Matthew went to the toilet and we ordered some food. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. Whilst we ate we saw First Potteries 32057 on a #25 service to Hanley. After we had finished eating we walked back down Church Street to the bus stop that we had gotten off at earlier. The was a First Potteries Enviro300 at the stop. As we got closer we saw that it was our last required one, First Potteries 67637 on a #2 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67637 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 we left Stoke and went up Harshill Road. We ran through Hartshill and we continued onto George Street and into Newcastle. We ran down the hill past the site of the old Baths and we went onto Jubilee Roundabout. We turned left onto Barracks Road and into the bus station. We let the bus empty and then Matthew took a photo inside First Potteries 67637.

Inside First Potteries 67637

Once off the bus station we decided to have a look a round and see what was about. On layover in Stubbs Street was D&G Solo 139.

D&G 139 in Newcastle bus station

behind the Solo was required D&G Bus 163, which we assumed might work the next #94 to Biddulph. On making this assumption we went up to the top end of the bus station to look at the #94 timetable. On the way we saw Arriva Midlands 3695 on the #164 to Market Drayton.

Arriva Midlands 3695 in Newcastle bus station

The #94 to Biddulph was due in around 15 minutes, we could do this up to Tunstall for cake, so we decided to wait around. Whilst at the top of the bus station we saw an unusual working. It was First Potteries 63097 on a #4 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63097 in Newcastle bus station

A few minutes later we saw a Dart approaching the bus station. As it got closer we saw it was required First Potteries 41498 on the #98 to Ball Green.

First Potteries 41498 in Newcastle bus station

As the D&G Dart had come on stand we asked Matthew if he wanted to do First Potteries 41498 and he said yes. 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 out of the bus station onto Barracks Road and over the Jubilee roundabout. We joined the A527 and we ran out through May Bank to Wolstanton. We turned right onto Porthill bank past the Bradwell Lodge family fun day event. At the bottom of the hill we crossed over the A500 into Longport and up to Trubshaw Cross where we turned right. We ran up Newcastle Street in Burslem town centre and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew then took another picture of First Potteries 41498 before it carried on towards Ball Green.

First Potteries 41498 in Burslem

Once off the bus we walked around the corner onto the Wedgwood Street to wait for the next bus towards Tunstall. As soon as we got to the bus stop we turned and saw a bus a few hundred yards down Waterloo Road. AS it got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 66849.

First Potteries 66849 in Burslem

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. I sat next to a drunken Slovakian who inst on chatting! I could barely understand him and the drunkenness was obviously making communication more difficult... We ran up Scotia Road to the edge of Tunstall and we turned left onto Williamson Street. At the end of the street we turned right onto the 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 66849 before it carried on towards Talke Pits.

First Potteries 66849 in Tunstall

Once off the bus we headed over to Tunstall Cafe. Matthew went to the toilet and then he had a slice of toffee cheesecake. The cheesecake was not the usual one, it was probably a high quality product, but Matthew preferred the old one! We scraped the bit that Matthew didn't like and he ate the rest of the cheesecake. He washed it down with a can of Coke. Once we had finished we said goodbye and we crossed the Street to the bus stop opposite. There was #99 to Newcastle due in a few minutes so we sat and waited... A few minutes later we saw the bus round the corner... It was dud First Potteries 43876.

First Potteries 43876 in Tunstall

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 down the High Street and we ran down onto Brownhills Road. We went past the school were there was an unidentified red single decker parked up. We continued down to Trubshaw Cross and as we approached the roundabout we saw former PMT Dart 917 running up Newcastle Street on a shuttle service linking the Middleport Pottery and the Etruria Industrial Museum. We tiniued down int Longport and over the A500 and up Porthill Bank. We turned left at the roundabout and we ran through Wolstanton and May Bank into Newcastle. We crossed the Jubilee roundabout and we ran down Barracks Road and into New castle bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 43876.

Inside First Potteries 43876

Across the way there was already a Hanley bound bus... It was dud First Potteries 67635 on a #4 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67635 in Newcastle bus station

We decided to do this bus. 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 out of the bus station onto Barracks Road and over the Jubilee roundabout. We went onto the A53 and we ran up the hill into Basford. We continued down into Etruria over the A500 and we turned left into Forge Lane past Bet365 and the Brindley Farm pub. We turned right into Festival Way and we ran under the A53 onto Etruria Road. We ran into Hanley and across Marsh Street onto Trinity Street. We turned right into Stafford Street and after a short wait we continued past the town hall onto Bagnall Street and into the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 67635.

Inside First Potteries 67635

We got off the bus and Matthew went to the toilet were we bumped into our neighbours! Once Matthew had finished we set off towards John Street car park. On the way we saw Arriva Midlands 3698 on a #164 service from Market Drayton.

Arriva Midlands 3698 in Hanley bus station

On the nearest layover bay we saw former Newcastle allocated First Potteries Dart 41494.

First Potteries 41494 in Hanley bus station

We went up the stairs and we watched the buses arriving and departing the bus station. We saw D&G Bus 100 on a #41 to Birches Head.

D&G 100 in Hanley bus station

Matthew ate a bag of Milky Stars and then had a can of diet Irn Bru. We saw First Potteries 32081 arrive in the bus station and we thought that it was going to work the next #7A to Biddulph. We also saw the unusual working of First Potteries Streetlite 63100 on the #7 to Kidsgrove. We walked back to the bus station and we went into the Spar shop where Matthew had a can of Coke and a small bottle of Irn Bru. He also had a couple of chocolate bars too. By the time we had got back into the main part of the bus station First Potteries 32081 had just departed. I had made a mistake with the time of the bus. We had a 20 minute wait for the next service. Whilst we waited we saw 'new to the area' First Potteries 67642 arrive on a #4A service to Talke. Just as we thought we had been on all the local Enviro300's another turns up in the area! A few minutes later we saw the next #7A approaching... It was dud First Potteries Solo 53041.

First Potteries 53041 in Hanley bus station

We waited whilst there was a driver change and then we got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day Ticket to the driver. The rear of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 53041.

Inside First Potteries 53041

We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus waited for time before setting off out of the bus station. We went 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. We went to the toilet and then walked down the High Street to the kebab shop. After getting some drinks and fries we came back to Wharf Road to eat them. Whilst we ate we saw required D&G Bus 30 on a #9 to Hanley.

D&G 30 in Biddulph bus station

We turned down this bus to see what was going to be on the next #7A to Hanley. The bus turned up and it was First Potteries 41498 that we had scored earlier in the bus between Newcastle & Burslem.

First Potteries 41498 in Biddulph bus station

We decided to this bus anyway, so 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 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. We let the bus empty and then Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 41498.

Inside First Potteries 41498

When we got off the bus we went to look for a service that would get us to Newcastle so we could meet up with mum. At the bottom of the bus station we spotted First Potteries 32057 on a #25 to Keele.

First Potteries 32057 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day Ticket to the driver for the last time today before we went upstairs. The top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 32057.

Inside First Potteries 32057

The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Bethesda Road. We crossed over the ring Road and onto Regents Road. We continued forwards onto Cauldon Road and we went down past the university to the railway station. We ran along the A52 and under the railway line and into Stoke. We climbed the hill into Hartshill and we went through the hospital onto the A34. We came into town from the south and into the bus station. Once off the bus we spotted First Potteries 67641 which had been on the #22 earlier in the day on layover.

First Potteries 67641 in Newcastle bus station

One of the first driver spotted Matthew taking his picture, and he asked if he wanted to have his picture taken in the driving seat! Matthew of course said yes so he jumped on the bus to pose for a picture. We tried to go to the toilet bu it was shut, so we walked to Irnmarket and we went into the Arnold Machin pub. Mathew used the toilet and then had a drink of Coke. Mum found us in the pub and then we walked back to the car. Once we got to the car 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 in Trent Vale for some chips. Whilst we were stopped we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 278 going South. We continued down the A34 to the roundabout an then we joined the Northbound A500. At Sideway we went east on the A50. 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 FP06 WTW

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

Also in the front row was Z Carz Renault minibus DS07 LSN.

Z Carz DS07 LSN in Longton

We also saw Z Carz Ford minibus GL04 CVE.

Z Carz GL04 CVE in Longton

Nearest in the front row was Z Carz LDV minibus PN06 ONM.

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

In the second row we saw Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

At the back of the site we saw Z Carz Iveco minibus GK02 NWJ.

Z Carz GK02 NWJ in Longton

We turned the corner into Willow Row and we saw Z Carz Mercedes minibus CE02 LYX parked on the road.

Z Carz CE02 LYX in Longton

In the compound behind cars was Z Carz Volkswagen minibus S973 OVP. We turned around and we went back onto the A50. We ran to Heron Cross and we turned left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got home around 18:15. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a caramel Shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 23:45... Mark