Trip to Newcastle / Biddulph 17-09-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67637	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	22	First Potteries
41501	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop R	21A	First Potteries
63176	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
139	Newcastle BS	Tunstall, Adj Stop A	94	D&G
135	Tunstall, Adj Stop B	Newcastle BS	94	D&G
32056	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	4	First Potteries
42894	Hanley BS	Biddulph BS	7A	First Potteries
32633	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries
65733	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	4	First Potteries

As we were going to the bus rally tomorrow, we decided that today we would stay locally. We had checked the weather for today and it was for dry weather with sunny intervals. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had a giant crumpet and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just after 12:00 to the bus stop all the way over on Magdalen Road. Whilst at the bus stop we saw First Potteries 53122 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 53122 in Blurton

A minute or so later and bang on time we saw First Potteries 67637 come around the corner out of Finstock Avenue on the #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67637 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. We turned right into New In lane and as we went down I noticed another bus behind us on the stop in front of us. As we got closer we saw that it was First Potteries 41501 on a #21A to Hanley. We got to The Man in Space and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67637 as it carried on towards Newcastle.

First Potteries 67637 in Trentham

We also got a picture of First Potteries 41501 before we ran to the stop and jumped on it.

First Potteries 41501 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 67640 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 41501 before it carried on towards Hanley.

First Potteries 41501 in Stoke

We walked along Campbell Place and we saw First Potteries 41494 on a #21 to the Trentham Hotel.

First Potteries 41494 in Stoke

We walked 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. Since our last visit the table has changed and the #2 service has become the #11 and now inter-works with the #6. As a result we knew there was an increased chance of a required bus turning up. The First Potteries Streelites that were previously mainly seen on the #6/6A only, now move around the city a bit more. We got to the bus stop and we saw that the next service to Newcastle was an #11. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching and it was a Streetlite. It was required First Potteries Streetlite 63176.

First Potteries 63176 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 forwards onto Hartshill Road. We ran the mile or so up to Hartshill and to the top of Newcastle. We descended down George Street into Newcastle and we turned left at the roundabout onto Barracks Road. We turned into the bus station and we let the bus empty so that Matthew could take a picture inside First Potteries 63176.

Inside First Potteries 63176

We got off the bus and we sat on the bench at the bottom of the bus station whilst we decided what we were going to do next. A few minutes later we saw required Arriva Midlands 3696 on a #164 to Market Drayton.

Arriva Midlands 3696 in Newcastle bus station

We also saw D&G Enviro200 100 arrive on a #94 to Newcastle.

D&G 100 in Newcastle bus station

We walked up to the top of the bus station hoping that D&G 100 might work out on the #94. Whilst we were there we saw something better... It was required First Potteries 32633 on a #98 to Ball Green

First Potteries 32633 in Newcastle bus station

Surprisingly Matthew turned down the double decker... I think he had another plan in mind which will become clear later. Whilst we waited was saw a D&G Solo pull onto the stand on the #94 to Congleton. As it got closer we saw that it was required D&G 139.

D&G 139 in Newcastle bus station

Matthew decided he wanted to do the Solo so we got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver. The bus was empty at this point so Matthew took a picture inside D&G 139 before we saw down towards the back of the bus.

Inside D&G 139

The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Barracks Road. We crossed the Jubilee Roundabout onto the A527 and we ran through Wolstanton and to Porthill. We ran down the hill and we crossed the A500 and we ran into Longport. At Trubshaw Cross we turned left onto Brownhills Road we climbed the hill into Tunstall town centre. We went straight onto Tunstall High Street and we passed First Potteries 66306 on a Hanley bound #3 service. At the top of the High Street we got up and got off the bus. Matthew then took another picture of D&G 139 before it carried on towards Congleton.

D&G 139 in Tunstall

We walked down to the Tunstall Cafe and Matthew went to the toilet whilst I sort out his food. Matthew had a slice of Toffee Cheesecake which he washed down with a can of Coke. One we had finished eating we said goodbye and then we crossed the road to the bus stop opposite. Matthew had indicated that he wanted to do the #99 back to Newcastle, but the bus appeared to be running a bit late. The first bus to come around the corner was required D&G Solo 135 on the #94 to Newcastle.

D&G 135 in Tunstall

We decided to do this bus... We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver. Matthew was misbehaving and was trying to honk the horn :(. We managed to stop him and then we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off down the High Street and forwards onto Brownhills Road. We ran down the hill to Trubshaw Cross and we joined Longport Road. We crossed over the roundabout and climbed Porthill bank where we passed preserved Bournemouth 55 coming the other way! At the top of the hill we turning left onto Wolstanton High Street. We ran through Wolstanton and out the other side and down into Newcastle. We crossed the Jubilee Roundabout and we ran onto barracks Road before we turned into the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside D&G 135.

Inside D&G 135

Once we got ogot off the D&G Solo we had to decided how we were going to get to Hanley. There was a Arriva Midlands Versa on a #164 as well as required D&G 157 on the 'Nines' service to Biddulph. Whilst we decided what to catch Matthew stood at the top end of the bus station taking pictures. We saw dud D&G Enviro200 112 arrive on 'The Orange ONE' service from Meir.

D&G 112 in Newcastle bus station

A few minutes later we saw an ALX400 double decker approaching... It was dud First Potteries 32056 on a #4A to Hanley.

First Potteries 32056 in Newcastle bus station

We decided to do the bus sanyway as it was likely to be withdrawn from service before the end of the year. We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver. The lower saloon was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 32056.

Inside First Potteries 32056

We went up the stairs and the rear of the top deck was also empty, so Matthew took another picture inside First Potteries 32056.

Inside First Potteries 32056

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 as we passed Waterworld we saw Clarkes coach YM15 DKF. We then ran under the A53 and 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 then got up and got off the bus. Matthew used the toilet and then we walked over to the John Street multi-storey car park to get a few bu pictures. We saw required D&G Versa 157 on the 'Nines' service to Biddulph that we had turned down earlier in the day.

D&G 157 in Hanley bus station

We also saw required First Potteries Scania Omnicity 65003 on a #18 to Leek Haregate.

First Potteries 65003 in Hanley bus station

We also saw First Potteries double decker 32639 on a #3 to Talke Pits.

First Potteries 32639 in Hanley bus station

We decided to walk back to the bus station and catch something towards Biddulph. On the way back in we saw First Potteries 53405 on a #5 from Abbey Hulton.

First Potteries 53405 in Hanley bus station

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. We had around a 10 minute wait for the next #7A and Matthew sat good as gold on the seat whilst we waited. The next #7A turned up and it was dud First Potteries 42894.

First Potteries 42894 in Hanley bus station

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 where we saw IOW Tours D11 OWT. 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 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 42894 before it carried on back to Hanley.

First Potteries 42894 in Biddulph bus station

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 also saw First Potteries 41520 on a #7A to Hanley.

First Potteries 41520 in Biddulph bus station

By the time we had finished eating it was nearly 17:00. There was a bit of a gap in the First service and the next First bus was due at 17:09. There was a D&G bus to Hanley due at 17:10 and there was an #94 service to Newcastle just after that. The D&G bus to Hanley turned up first as it often does and it was dud D&G 161. A few minutes aler we saw the bus approaching... As it got closer we saw that it was required First Potteries 32633 that Matthew had us turn down earlier in the day!

First Potteries 32633 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 went upstairs. The top deck was empty so Matthew took a piture inside First Potteries 32633 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 32633

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. As we travelled alon High Lane we passed a few coaches. We saw Paul's of Stoke Y13 POS, Happy Als coach HA12 ALS and Bakers Coaches 7025 RU.and we ran back through Smallthorne & Sneyd Green into Hanley. Once we got off the bus we quickly looked for a bus heading towards Newcastle. Almost immediatly we saw dud First Potteries 65733 on a #4 service.

First Potteries 65733 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Bethesda Street. We went along Marsh Street and then down Etruria Road. We crossed under the A53 and we went into the Festival Park. We went up Festival Way and as we passed Waterworld we saw an unidentified Park's of Hamilton coach. We turned right down Forge Lane before crossing under the A53. We joined the A53 and we crossed the A500 into Basford. We dropped down towards Newcastle and then we went around the one way system before turning left into Barracks Road. When we got back to the bus station Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 65733 before it carried on towards Audley.

First Potteries 65733 in Newcastle bus station

Mum was waiting in the car on other side of Barracks Road in a car park off Hassell Street. Matthew got in the car and had some Wright's Pie mini sausage rolls which he washed down with a small Bottle of Irn Bru. We set off up Hassell Street nd we turned left onto Marsh Parade. We had a few things to do so we had to head up to Smallthorne. We ran up the A52 and we turned onto Shelton New Road. At the traffic lights we turned left onto Victoria Road and then right onto the A53. We crossed the A500 and we ran up the A53 through Cobridge. We turned left onto Sandbach Road and we climbed the hill to Smallthorne roundabouts. We crossed over onto Ford Green Road anwe tiurned left into Fell Street. We ran down Coceley Street and onto Duddell Road and we stopped to drop something off. We turned right onto Chell Heath Road and right again back onto Ford Green Road. We had to make another stop so we looped off the main road along Saturn Road, Mars Street and Jupiter Street. As we had a lot to do we decided to visit captain Kooks for tea. We ran over Smallthorne roundabout onto Sandbach Road and we stopped at the diner. The car park was busy as there was some kind of car club meeting there. They had stopped for a bit to eat having driven all over North Staffordshire. The cars being driven were mainly MG's. In the diner Matthew had a breakfast which he washed down with a small bottle of Coke. When we had finished eating we set off down Sandbach Road and onto the Westbound A53. We ran to Etruria and we joined the Southbound A500. We came off onto the High Level at Stoke and we ran past the railway station and onto Glebe Street. We crossed the A500 and and we went up into Fenton. We stopped at Uncle daves so he could puck some things up and we continued up to Heron Cross. We joined the A50 and we ran East up to Longton where we came off to see what was parked up at the depot this evening. In the first row was Z Carz silver minibus CN57 HWA.

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

Also in the first row was Z Carz Ford minibus FP06 WTW.

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

Closest bus in the frst row was Z Carz white Volkswagen OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

We also saw Z Carz Volkswagen minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was in the compound this evening. We saw Z Carz minibus BU04 GYW.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

We also saw their new Citroen minibus LV59 DZC. We got back onto the A50 and we ran to Heron Cross where we turned left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road and right again onto Beaonsfield Drive. We got back around 20:00. As we had already eaten we spent the rest of the evening sorting out pictures and starting the Blog. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark