Trip to Tutbury / Burton-on-Trent 11-09-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
55	Tutbury, Opp Holt's Lane	Burton upon Trent, Wetmore Road bus garage	1	Midland Classic
11	Burton upon Trent, Wetmore Road bus garage	Beam Hill, Opp The Beacon Hotel	1	Stevensons
80	Beam Hill, Adj The Beacon Hotel	Burton upon Trent, Wetmore Road bus garage	1	Midland Classic
60	Burton upon Trent, Wetmore Road bus garage	Tutbury, Opp Ye Olde Dog & Partridge	1	Stevensons
1168	Tutbury, Opp Holt's Lane	Beam Hill, Adj The Beacon Hotel	1	Midland Classic
96	Beam Hill, Adj The Beacon Hotel	Burton upon Trent, Opp Sainsbury's Store	1	Midland Classic
TMA 405X	Burton upon Trent, Adj Sainsbury's Store	Beam Hill, Adj The Beacon Hotel	1	Midland Scottish
TMA 405X	Beam Hill, Adj The Beacon Hotel	Burton upon Trent, Wetmore Road bus garage	1	Midland Scottish
14	Burton upon Trent, Wetmore Road bus garage	Tutbury, Adj Holt's Lane	1	Stevensons

Today we decided to attend the 'Stevensons 90' running day, which was tking place between Uttoxeter & Burton-on-Trent. We had seen the event being organised on Facebook, which was being orgaised by Midland Classic, using some of their own vehicles as well as other preserved buses and coaches that were invited to take part. Matthew got up around 11:00 and had toast and ornage juice for breakfast. We downloaded the timetable and we set off just before 12:00 onto the A5035. We ran through Fresden to Longton and we got onto the Eastbound A50. We ran fast to the edge of Uttoxter and it was 12:18. As the bus was due off at 12:00 and was hourly from Uttoxeter we made an executive decision to carry on to Tutbury. We carried on along the A50 for another few miles and we came off at the A511. We crossed over the A50 and we East to Hatton, and we followed the road to the right when we got to the Salt Box Cafe. We ran through Hatton town centre and over the railway line and at the next roundabout we went straight up into Tutbury village. We parked in the High Street and opposite there were a lod of old tractors and steam traction engines. A quick look at the timetable had the buses departing from Duke Street. We walked up the High Street and at the end ene was Duke Street. We saw some stops to the right and we walked down to them. There was a toilet block by the bus stop so Matthew went to us the facilities. When he came we heard a bus approaching frm around the corner. It was Midland Classic double decker 55. The bus is painted in Stevens colours and was the newest bus taking part in the rally and in daily service. We crossed the road to get a good picture.

Midland Classic 55 in Tutbury

We crossed back over and we got on the bus. It was a free bus service so we went straight up the stairs. The top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Midland Classic 55 before we sat down at the front of the bus.

Inside Midland Classic 55

Whilst we waited for departure we heard another bus pull up behind us. It was Stevenson's half cab double decker 11 which is now a preserved vehicle. We also saw required Midland Classic 80 going towards Uttoxeter. We set off up duke street and we climbed the hill up to the A511. We turned right and we ran up to Beam Hill. We continued along the A511 and under the A38. At the roundabout we turned right into the A5121 and we ran towards the town centre. We turned left onto Borough Road and we crossed over the railway by the railway station and we ran into the town centre. We turned right into Union Street and left into New Street. After passing the shopping centres we turned left inti High Street. We crossed the A511 and we ran onto Wetmore Road. What I didn't reailse becuase I had left my glasses in the car the that bus were running to the Old Arriva Midlands depot that has now been taken over by Middland Classic. We continued up the road and we pulled into the depot. When we got off we had a walk around the depot. There were a couple of rows of preserved vehicles and vehicles being used in the running day. We saw dud Midland Red double decker 1918.

Midland Red 1918 in Burton upon Trent

That was a double decker we had been on a few times in the past. We also went further back into the dept to look at the Midland Classic service buses. At the back of the depot was required Midland Classic dual door double decker 45.

Midland Classic 45 in Burton upon Trent

Also at the back was dud Midland Classic 111, which came to them when thry took over services from Arriva Midlands at the end of August.

Midland Classic 111 in Burton upon Trent

Midland Classic 111 was formerly Arriva Midlands 3711 which we have been on from Uttoxeter to Sudbury back in April 2014. In the opposite corner of the depot was Midland Classic Solo 31.

Midland Classic 31 in Burton upon Trent

We walked back to the front of the garage and we saw Browns Blue half cab double decker KLB 596.

Browns Blue KLB 596 in Burton upon Trent

There was another part of the depot which was mainly service buses, but at the front of the row was preserved Bassetts XBF 423X painted up as Stevensons 14.

Stevensons 14 in Burton upon Trent

There was another bus about to depart so we went to check it out. It was required Stevenson's half cab double decker 11 that we had seen working earlier.

Stevensons 11 in Burton upon Trent

We decided to do this bus, so we got on it and we went upstairs. We had seen required Midland Classic 80 going towards Uttoxeter, so we through it would be good to do this bus to go and intercept the double decker. The bus set off onto Wetmore Road and we crossed the A511 onto the High Street. We turned right onto New Street and we trundled through town. It wasn't the smothest ride, with gear changes seamigly difficult and the traffic in the town centre busy forcing many gear changes. We turned right into Union Street and left into Station St. We went forwards onto Borough Road and we went onto the one way system and onto Waterloo Street. We stayed on Waterloo Street and we went over the countless spead bumps which made for a very interesting ride! At the end we crossed Dallow Street onto Victoria Crescent and at the end we joined the Northbound A511. We went out of town up the hill and we still hadn't passed Midland Classic 80. As we approched Beam Hill we decided to get off the bus just to be sure we didn't miss it. We got up and got off the bus and we took another picture of Stevenson's 11 as it carried on towards Uttoxeter.

Stevensons 11 in Beam Hill

We crossed the road and we sat at the bus stop. We gave Matthew a packet of Milky Stars and almost as soon as he started eating, required Midland Classic 80 came down the hill and onto the stop.

Midland Classic 80 in Beam Hill

At the same time West Midlands Travel 1026 appeared also on a Burton-upon-Trent bound service.

West Midlands Travel 1026 in Beam Hill

We got on Midland Classic 80 and we went upstairs and sat down. We set off onto the Southbound A511 and we ran under the A38 and to the edge of town. We turned right onto the a5121 and we turned left Borough Road. We passed the railway station and we went forwards onto Station Street where we passed required Midland Classic 96. We turned right into Union Street and left into New Street. At the top of New Street an turned left into the High Street and forwards onto Wetmore Road and into the depot. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Midland Classic 80.

Inside Midland Classic 80

Once off the bus we took another picture of Midland Classic 80 before it reversed into it's parking space.

Midland Classic 80 in Burton upon Trent

We decided to have a break from the buses, so we would do one last trip before we had something to eat and I could get my glasses from the car! About to work the next service to Uttoxeter via Tutbury was ORS 60R, which had been done up in Stevenson's colours just for this rally.

Stevensons 60 in Burton upon Trent

We got on the bus and we sat down towards the back. We set off onto Wetmore Road and forwards onto High Street. We then went right onto New Stret and onto Station Street vis Union Street. As we went past the station we saw Arriva Midlands 3747 on the X38 to Burton-upon-Trent. We continued out of town around the one way system and onto the A5121 befoe we turned left onto the A511. We ran up to the top of Beam Hill and out onto the open road. We had a good turn of speed as we went towards the Southern edge of Tutbury. At the roundabout we turned left onto Burton Street and right onto High Street. The bus stop almost opposite to where the car was parked and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stevenson's 60 as it carried on towards Uttoxeter.

Stevensons 60 in Tutbury

I returned to the car and I got my glasses. We then walked along the High Street and swe spotted a tea rooms... It did bacon and sausge sandwiches so we went inside and Matthew used the toilet whilst I ordered him a sausage sandwich and a can of Pepsi. Whilst we waited for the food I looked up the next bus. There was one due to depart from around the corner from Duke Street at 15:22. The food was very nice but very expensive! Once we had finished eatng we legged it down the High Street and onto Duke Street to see required Midland Classic Routemaster 1168 sitting at the bus stop. There was no driver, so we crossed the road to get a good picture of the bus.

Midland Classic 1168 in Tutbury

We got on the bus and we went upstairs and sat down. Whilst we were sitting down waiting for depature time, we spotted a printed sheet on the floor of the bus. It was the timetable, but it had the information of what bus was working what service! It was probably either being sold or given away at the depot, but we hadn't spotted anyone with the sheets. We set off up Burton Street and onto the A511. According the sheet Midland Classic double decker 96 had originally been planned to work and then had been withdrawn from the running due to a technical problem. But we had seen it work earlier in the day...? I looked at what it shoud have worked, and it did indeed work it's intended turn at 14:00 off the depot. It was booked to work again at 15:00 arrival at Beam Hill 15:27, to work a 15:30 back to the depot. As we approached the Beam Hill stop, I realised it was only 15:27 and the bus wasn't there. I asked Matthew if he wanted to get off to do the other double decker and he said yes. So we got off Midland Classic 1168. Matthew took another picture of Midland Classic 1168 as it stood awaiting departure time.

Midland Classic 1168 in Beam Hill

As we saw Midland Classic 96 approaching, I realised that whilst I worked out what we could do, I had put my camers down on the bus seat. Uncle Dave stopped with Matthew whilst I got back on the Routemaster to retrieve my camera! There was just enough time for me to get a picture of Midland Classic 96 before we jumped on it.

Midland Classic 96 in Beam Hill

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty, so matthew took a picture inside Midland Classic 96.

Inside Midland Classic 96

We set off down the hill along the A511 and towards the town. According to the sheet there was only two more buses that we could travel on that we hadn't been on before at some point. West Midlands Travel 1026 was currently on it's way to Tutbury which we passed as we traveled down the hill. The other bus was Midland Scottish 405 was due off the depot at 15:40. We decided that if we got off somewhere in town we could do Midland Scottish 405. We went under the A38 and at the edge of town we turned right onto the A5121. We turned left onto Borough Road and we went past the railway station. We turned right out of Station Street into Union Street and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Midland Classic 96 before it carried on back to the depot.

Midland Classic 96 in Burton upon Trent

We crossed the road at the crossing and Matthew sat at the bus stop. Almost immediately we saw required Midland Scottish 405 turned the corner out of New street into Union Street and approach the bus stop.

Midland Scottish TMA 405X in Burton upon Trent

We set off around the corner onto Station Street and we ran over the railway line before we went around the one way system and onto the A5121. We turned left onto the A511 and we went under the A38 and we ran up the hill. At Beam Hill there shuld have been a 3 way switch between buses... we should have a choice of Stevenson's 60 which we had been up to Tutbury on earlier, West Midlands Travel 1026 and Midland Scottish TMA 405X. As we went up the hill we passed Stevenson's 60 and when we got to the Beam Hill stop we saw West Midlands Travel 1026 pulling off! We now had no choice but to return on Midland Scottish TMA 405X. We didn't bother to get off the bus for a photograoh, and a few minutes later we set off back down the hill along the A511 and junder the A38. We turned right onto the A5121 and left into Borough Road. After crossing the railway line we turned right into Union Street and left int New Street. We turned left int High Street and we ran over the A511 onto Wetmore Roadand into the depot. We let the bus empty and Matthew got a picture inside Midland Scottish TMA 405X before we got off it.

Inside Midland Scottish TMA 405X

We watched Midland Scottish TMA 405X reverse back into it's parking space and Matthew got another picture of Midland Scottish TMA 405X.

Midland Scottish TMA 405X in Burton upon Trent

In theory there was only one departure left now. It was supposde to be Stevenson's 60 which we had been on earlier. Stevensons 60 started to load up where it was parked and then surprisingly Stevensons 14 pulled onto the departure stop. It was bound for the Stoke direction and Keith Stanton was driving. We asked him if it was going back with passengers and he told us that they were going as far as Uttoxter and would be stopping at Tutbury. So we took a picture before we jumped on to it.

Stevensons 14 in Burton upon Trent

There was a quick driver swap and we set off into Burton and out off the other side up the A5121. We turned left onto the A511 and we went up through Beam Hill. At the Southern edge of Tutbury we went left onto Burton Street and we stopped on Duke Street, on the opposite side of the road that we had started the day earlier. We got off the bus and Matthew got another pictureof Stevensons 14.

Stevensons 14 in Tutbury

Another surpride id that required Bournemouth 103 also made the trip from the depot with passengers asit is another Stoke on Trent based preserved bus.

Bournemouth 103 in Tutbury

We also saw Stevenson's 60 which was the booked bus to work the 16:30 from the depot. On the other side of the road was Midlland Classic 1 on the #401 service bus.

Midland Classic 1 in Tutbury

We walked around the corner onto High Street and we got in the car. We then went back down the high Street and North up to the A511. We ran over the railway line and as we passed through Hatton we saw Stevensons 11 on the final bus back into Burton. At the Salt Box Cafe we folloed the road to the left and we ran the last mile or so up to the A50. We went West along the dual carriageway, we passed just North of Uttoxeter and then to the Blythe Bridge roundabout. We followed the A50 around to the left and we ran through Meir and Longton to Heron Cross. We dropped down into Fenton and we dropped uncle Dave off at home before erturning up into Heron Cross. We ran through Blurton along Blurton Road and we followed the road to the right onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got home just before 18:00. We spent most of the evening out puctures online from today trip. We had a late tea of fish and chips and later Matthew had a bath. We then finished off writing the previous days Blog and we finally got to bed around 01:00... Mark