Trip to Newcastle / Biddulph 29-10-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67631	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	22	First Potteries
67157	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop R	21A	First Potteries
63096	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
32079	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	4A	First Potteries
37146	Hanley BS	Tunstall, Adj Stop M	7A	First Potteries
53829	Tunstall, Adj Stop A	Oxford, adj Biddulph Road(stoamdpg)	99	First Potteries
41520	Oxford, adj Biddulph Road(stoamdpg)	Biddulph BS	7A	First Potteries
41522	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries
66303	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	25	First Potteries

Today we decided 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. Whilst Matthew got ready I went to put gas in the car. At Sideway we saw MT Travel minibus SD58 OKF. Returning home we passed First Potteries 67631 which we knew would be on the next bus to Newcastle. On the radio I heard that there had been an accident at Talke which was causing delays to traffic. We set off just after 12:00 to the bus stop all the way over on Magdalen Road. A few minutes later and bang on time we saw First Potteries 67631 come around the corner out of Finstock Avenue on the #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67631 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 were we passed dud First Potteries 67642 on the #22 to Longton. We ran over the railway line into Trentham. We turned right into New In lane and as we went down I noticed another bus at the stop in front of us. As we got closer we saw that it was required First Potteries 67157 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 67631 as it carried on towards Newcastle.

First Potteries 67631 in Trentham

We also got a picture of First Potteries 67157 before we ran to the stop and jumped on it.

First Potteries 67157 in Trentham

The bus driver recognised Matthew and said hello to him. She remembered Matthew from when he was a small boy... 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 Lane 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 67637 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 67157 before it carried on towards Hanley.

First Potteries 67157 in Stoke

Once off the bus we walked along Campbell Place and we visit the TSB to get some money out of the cash machine. We crossed over Campbell Place and we turned 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. Whilst we ate we saw D&G 121 on 'The Orange ONE' service going towards Meir. When we had finished eating we went out onto Church Street. Once we had finished eating we walked back along Church street to wait for a bus to Newcastle. As we walked towards the stop we saw a standard liveried Streetlite approaching on a #11 service. It was required First Potteries 63096. As we walked towards the stop we spotted Stone Green Bus BX65 KYG in Welch Street.

Stone Green Bus BX65 KYG in Stoke

We then walked over to the bus stop for First Potteries 63096 on the #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 63096 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down at the back of the bus. When I said it was required that was only strictly true for myself and uncle Dave... Matthew had been on First Potteries 63096 from Bentilee to Meir back in August 2015. We set off along church street, past the roadworks which effectively closed off the eastbound side of Church street to bus traffic. We climbed the hill along Hartshill Road and we passed through Hartshill before dropping down into Newcastle down George Street. We joined the one way system and we turned left on the roundabout onto Barracks Road. As we got to the bus station in Newcastle we saw First Potteries 32634 on stand and about to work the #99 to Bradeley. When we got into the bus station we let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 63096.

Inside First Potteries 63096

We got off the bus and we started to walk up the top half of the bus station. What we would normally do at this point is to head to Tunstall, or even Burslem and then forwards to Tunstall. First Potteries 32634 was still in the bus station on the #99 to Bradeley. As we were considering going over to the red and cream liveries PMT double decker, we saw a couple of ALX400 double deckers coming int the bus station stopped at the traffic lights. Whilst we waited for these buses to come into the bus station we saw D&G Optare Versa 158 on the #9 to Biddulph.

D&G 158 in Newcastle bus station

The buses at the lights came into the bus station and they were First Potteries 32081 and required First Potteries 32079, both on the #4A to Hanley. First Potteries 32081 came on stand first and then First Potteries 32079 pulled up along side it.

First Potteries 32079 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus was almost empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 32079 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 32079

The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Barracks Road. We crossed over the roundabout and we climbed the hill into Basford. We then dropped down the hill into Etruria and we crossed over the A500. We ran towards Cobridge And we turned left by the Bet365 office and we ran up Forge Lane and back down Festival Way. Outside Waterworld we saw Owen's Coaches coach W709 PTO. We crossed under the A53 and we ran up the hill past a new building and into Hanley along Etruria Road. At the top we crossed over Marsh Street into Trinity Street. We turned right into Stafford Street and we passed the town hall and ran along Bagnall Street and into the bus station. Once off the bus Matthew went to the toilet and then headed over to the John Street car park to take a few bus pictures. We saw one of the recent D&G arrivals from Transdev York about to leave the bus station so we stopped by the exit and waited for it. As it got closer we saw that it was required D&G Buses Solo 45 on a #40 to Longton.

D&G 45 in Hanley bus station

We also saw First Potteries 67602 on a #3 to Crewe.

First Potteries 67602 in Hanley bus station

We went into the car park and we headed upstairs so that we could take a few bus pictures. We saw relative newcomer First Potteries 32648 which was on a #32 to Uttoxeter.

First Potteries 32648 in Hanley bus station

We took a few more bus pictures and Matthew had a Milky Way and a can of Vimto. After a while we headed down to the bus station and we visited the Spar shop. Matthew had a can of Coke and a bottle of Irn Bru as well as a couple of chocolate bars. We purchased the stuff and then we headed into the main part of the bus station to wait for a bus towards Tunstall. We sat down by the Tunstall stand and we saw First Potteries 67636 come in about to work a #3 to Crewe. For some reason the bus sat there for a while between driver changes, and a few driver came and went as if there was a problem with the bus. In the mean time, First Potteries 37146 came in about to work the following #3 to Talke Pits.

First Potteries 37146 in Hanley bus station

A few minutes later First Potteries 67635 started to loaded and we didn't get on it. We waited foe First Potteries double decker 37146 to be readied for service. This involved one of the staff jumping on the bus and cleaning up an area upstairs where someone had been sick! When the bus started loading we got on and flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver and Matthew took a picture inside the lower saloon of First Potteries 37146.

Inside First Potteries 37146

We went upstairs and the top decker was also empty so Matthew took another picture inside First Potteries 37146.

Inside First Potteries 37146

The bus waited for time before setting off out of the bus station. We went down John Street and onto Bethesda Street before we went across onto Marsh Street and then we turned right into Trinity Street. We turned left into Stafford Street and we turned left onto New Hall Street and right onto Marsh Street North. At the end we went forwards onto Waterloo Road and we ran through Cobridge and up into Burslem. After a brief stop wen went forwards onto Scotia Road. By the time we got to the old Burslem PMT garage we had caught up First Potteries 67636 which had set off 5 minutes before us fully loaded. We turned left onto Williamson Street and then right onto Tunstall High Street. At the bottom we overtook First Potteries 67636 which was at the bus stop. Coming the other way we saw First Potteries advertiser 41540 which was on a #99 to Newcastle. At the top of the High Street we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 37146 before it carried on towards Talke.

First Potteries 37146 in Tunstall

We walked down the street and we took a picture of First Potteries 67636 on the #3 to Crewe that we had turned down earlier in Hanley.

First Potteries 67636 in Tunstall

Further down the street we saw First Potteries 65026 & 32056, both of which were on #3 services to Hanley.

First Potteries 32056 in Tunstall

We walked down to The Tunstall Cafe and Matthew went to the toilet and I ordered him the cheesecake and a can of Coke. They had reverted back to the old style of cheescake, but Matthew didn't seem to mind one bit! Once we had finished eating we went outside and we walked to the nearest stop. We had decided that we were going to head towards Biddulph directly. There was a #99 to Bradeley at 15:13 and a couple of minutes later there was a 15:15 D&G Buses #94 service Biddulph. I asked Matthew which of these buses he wanted to do and he chose the First bus. A few minutes later we saw a First Potteries Solo approaching... As it got closer we saw that it was First Potteries 53829.

First Potteries 53829 in Tunstall

We got on and flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off up the High Street and we turned sharp right onto Scotia Road and left into the Boulevard. We ran down the hill past the park and we went forwards onto Queens Avenue before turning left onto Irene Avenue. At the top we turned left onto Carlton Avenue and then right onto Little Chell Lane. We turned left onto High Lane and we ran through the roadworks to the roundabout. We ran down the hill and towards the bottom we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 53829 before it turned right onto Oxford Road and ran towards Bradeley.

First Potteries 53829 in Oxford

We stood at the stop and almost immediately we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was First Potteries 41520.

First Potteries 41520 in Oxford

We got on and flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off down the A527 and we ran up the hill towards Chatterly Whitfield. We continued up through Brindley Ford and we turned left to run through Brown Lees. Normally the route through Brown Lees would be along Brown Lees Road, Tower Hill Road and onto Newpool Road. Due to Newpool Road we should have turned at an earlier street. We went past the diversion route and continued up towards Mow Cop! The driver turned the bus around at the junction of Akesmoor Lane and we returned back down the hill. An elderly gent sitting near the front tried to direct the the bus driver down dead end Lyndhurst Drive so a couple of local kids decided to help the driver around the diversion. via Mansfield Drive, Endon Drive, Lotus Avenue and Lyneside Road. We re -joined Neewpool Road and 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 and Colliers Way. When we passed the Hollinshead coach depot we saw an unidentified white Solo in the depot, presumably a spare bus for the new Beartown services that they started to operate recently. We turned up Wharf Road to the bus station where we got up. Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 41520 before we got off it.

Inside First Potteries 41520

We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 41520 before it carried on back to Hanley. We then went to the kebab shop for a portion of fries and some cans of pop. We walked back to the bus stop and we shared the fries. We walked down towards the bus station and toilets and we saw required D&G 100 on a #9 service to Hanley.

D&G 100 in Biddulph bus station

Matthew then drank a can of Tango Orange. Just as we finished eating and drinking we saw First Potteries 32639 on a #7a which promtly arrived and departed. We turned down dud D&G 134 which was on the 16:40 to Newcastle. Matthew wanted to waited for the following First bus which was due to depart at 16:45. We bus came up the road from the roundabout and as we got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 41522.

First Potteries 41522 in Biddulph bus station

We got on and flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before sitting 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 via the diversion route and we rejoined the A527 by the industrial estate. We ran down through Brindley Ford and to Fegg Hayes. We ran up the hill to Chell and we turned left onto High Lane. We ran back through Smallthorne & Sneyd Green into Hanley. When we got back to Hanley we let the bus empty out and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 41522.

Inside First Potteries 41522

When we got off the bus Matthew went to the toilet and then we headed down to the bottom end of the bus station. We had a choice of doing a #101 or a #25 to Newcastle where we arranged to meet mum and Matthew chose to wait for the #25. The bus came into the bus station and it was First Potteries 66303.

First Potteries 66303 in Hanley bus station

Whilst we waited for the bus to be readied for service we saw Intercity YK07 NYX on the Hanley ring road and First Potteries 37156 departing on the #32 to Uttoxeter. The driver appeared and then we got on the bus, flashing the Smart Day ticket to the driver for the final time today. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 66303 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside First Potteries 66303

When it was time we set off out of the bus station onto john Street and left onto Bethesda Street. We crossed over the ring road and we ran down through Shelton along Regent Road and College Road. We passed the railway station and we continued forwards onto the A52. We followed the road to the right under the railway line and we crossed over the A500 entering Stoke town centre. Opposite we saw required First Potteries Volvo 66305 on a #25 to Hanley. We continued along Church Street onto Hartshill Road and into the centre of Hartshill. We turned left into the Avenue and left again onto Hilton Road before turning right into the City General Hospital. Once through the hospital we turned right onto the A34 and we ran into Newcastle. We crossed the raundabout and we ran up Barracks Road and into the bus station from the South end. We got up and got off the bus and we set off towards where mum had parked the car. On the way we saw First Potteries 32634 on a #98 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 32634 in Newcastle bus station

At the top end of the bus station we saw First Potteries 65706 on a #4 to Audley.

First Potteries 65706 in Newcastle bus station

We crossed over Barrack Road into Hassell Street and we jumped into the car. Mum was waiting with small Wrights Pies sausage rolls and a bottle of Irn Bru. We set off down barracks Road and on the A34. We passed Jubilee WMC AK52 LXC parked up at the side of the road. We ran down to Trent Vale and we stopped at the chip shop for some chips. Once had picked them up we ran along the A34 to The A500 and we went North to Sideway. We went East along the A50 and we travelled up to Longton where we came off to see what was parked up at Z Carz today. In the front row was Z Carz minibus GL04 CVE.

Z Carz GL04 CVE in Longton

Also in the front row of buses was Z Carz minibus HK57 LFY.

Z Carz HK57 LFY in Longton

Closest bus in the front row was Z Carz Ford minibus PY08 KDX.

Z Carz PY08 KDX in Longton

At the front of the second row we saw Z Carz Renault minibus BU04 GYW.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

We turned into Willow Row to see what was in the compound. Parked on the street we saw Z Carz Ford minibus NA06 SUO.

Z Carz NA06 SUO in Longton

Also parked on the road in Willow Row was Z Carz ford minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we went across onto baths Road and into Tesco petrol station where we filled up with diesel. We got back onto the A50 and we went West to 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 around 19:00. For a late Matthew had baked potato wedges and mash with carrots followed by a Manchester tart. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark