Trip to Newcastle / Biddulph 24-12-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67635	Blurton. adj Ladybank Grove	Longton TI	22	First Potteries
37157	Longton TI	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	11	First Potteries
63179	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	2	First Potteries
32649	Newcastle BS	Burslem, Town Hall (stop G)	98	First Potteries
65705	Burslem, Wedgwood Street (stop A)	Tunstall, Adj Stop M	3	First Potteries
136	Tunstall, Adj Stop B	Newcastle BS	94	D&G Bus
67601	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	4	First Potteries
41501	Hanley BS	Biddulph BS	7A	First Potteries
43876	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries
66852	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	25	First Potteries

Today we decided to stay local as it was Christmas Eve and we had plans to go further afield next Saturday. Matthew got up and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We had already decided that we would head towards Longton first, so we set off just after 12:00 to the bus stop on Beaconsfield Drive. Whilst we waited for our bus we saw First Potteries 42552 on a #23 to Hanley. A few minutes later the bus appeared and it was dud First Potteries 67635 on the #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 67635 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked a Smart Day at £5.30 before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Beaconsfield Drive and at the end we turned right onto Church Road. We followed the road around to the left onto Blurton Road and at the bottom of the hill we turned right onto Longton Hall Lane. We climbed the hill into Longton and onto the A50 and we saw First Potteries 37158 on a #6 to Weston Coyney. We crossed the roundabout onto Baths Road and we entered Longton Transport Interchange. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67635.

First Potteries 67635 in Longton Interchange

In the bus station was required First Potteries 32648 on a #11 to Hanley.

First Potteries 32648 in Longton Interchange

As we were heading to Stoke we let that bus got to wait for a #11 in the other direction. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching and it was another double decker. As it got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 37157.

First Potteries 37157 in Longton Interchange

we got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. As the rear of the top deck was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 37157.

Inside First Potteries 37157

The bus set off out of the interchange onto baths Road and we turned right under the railway line onto King Street. We ran through Foley and into Fenton and we went forwards onto City Road. We continued down the hill and we joined the A52 to go under the railway line into Stoke town centre. After crossing over the A500 we entered Stoke along Church Street and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 37157 before it continued on towards Newcastle.

First Potteries 37157 in Stoke

Once we got off the bus we walked down Church Street to Stoke Cafe where Matthew went to the toilet. When Matthew returned we ordered the food. Matthew had a small breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. Whilst we ate we saw First Potteries 32635 on a #11 to Hanley. Once we had finished eating we walked along Church Street back to the Newcastle stop to wait for the next bus. There was a #11 ans a #25 due. The #25 came first and we decided to turn it down as it was First Potteries 66843. A minute or so later we saw the #11 approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Potteries 63179.

First Potteries 63179 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. We set off along Church Street and forwards onto Hartshill Road. We went up the hill and through Hartshill before we went forwards onto George Street and into Newcastle. We went around the one way system and onto the Jubilee roundabout and then we turned left onto Barracks Road. We turned into the bus station and then we waited bus to empty before Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 63179.

Inside First Potteries 63179

Once off the bus we had a quick wander around whilst we decided what to do next. We saw dud Arriva Midlands 2959 on a #164 to Market Drayton.

Arriva Midlands 2959 in Newcastle bus station

We also saw First Potteries 53405 on a #97 to Wolstanton.

First Potteries 53405 in Newcastle bus station

A few minutes later we saw a raspberry front double decker approaching the bus station. When it got closer we saw that it was required First Potteries 32649 on the #98 to Ball Green. We decided to do this bus so we went over to queue up to get on the bus.

First Potteries 32649 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top ceck was empty sp Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 32649.

Inside First Potteries 32649

The bus set off onto Barracks Road and up to the Jubilee roundabout. We crossed over onto the A527 and we ran out of town through Brampton up to May bank. At the traffic lights in May Bank we saw MT Travel SD58 OKT. We continued forwards through Wolstanton and at the roundabout we turned right onto Porthill Bank, As we crossed the A500 we saw an unidentified red yellow pink and blue coach. We ran up through Longport to Middleport and at Trubshaw Cross we turned right towards Burslem. On the right we saw unidentified white minibus EO16 FNJ on spare ground. We ran up Newcastle Street into Burslem and we got up and got off the bus. We took another picture of First Potteries 32649 before it carried on towards Ball Green.

First Potteries 32649 in Burslem

We went around the corner to Wedgwood Place to wait for the Tunstall bus and almost immediately we saw one approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was First Potteries 65705.

First Potteries 65705 in Burslem

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down to wards the back of the bus. We set off onto Scotia Road and we ran up past the old Burslem bus garage to the bottom end of Tunstall. We turned left onto Williamson Street and then we turned right onto Tunstall High Street. At the top end of the High Street we got up and got off the bus. We took another picture of First Potteries 65705 before it carried on towards Crewe.

First Potteries 65705 in Tunstall

Once off the bus bus we walked down the High Street to Tunstall Cafe. Matthew went to the toilet and I ordered him a slice o toffee cheesecake and a can of Coke. Whilst in the cafe we saw blue Scraggs Solo 9685 VT on a #90 to Ball Green. Once he had finished eating we went out of the cafe and across the road to the bus stop opposite. Matthew said he wanted to do the #99 to Newcastle. We saw and turned down First Potteries 66851 on a #3 to Hanley. A few minutes later we saw required D&G Solo 136 on a #94 to Newcastle.

D&G 136 in Tunstall

We decided to do this bus so we got on it and flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. Matthew was well behaved and didn't even try and beep the horn! We ran down the High Street past yhe new building on the right and forwards onto Brownills Road. We continued down the hill and at Trubshaw Cross we continued down through Middleport into Longport. We crossed over the A500 and we climbed up Porthill Bank. At the top we turned left and we ran through Wolstanton and May Bank. We ran into Newcastle and we crossed the Jubilee roundabout onto Barracks Street. We went into the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. On the way in we had seen a white Solo so we went over to investigate. It was new arrival in the fleet, D&G Solo 49.

D&G 49 in Newcastle bus station

We considered doing the Solo but it was on a #73 to Audley, so we turned it down. We decided to do a bus to Hanley, and First Potteries 67601 came int the bus station on a #4 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67601 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the smart day ticket to the driver. The bus was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 67601 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside First Potteries 67601

We set off onto Barracks Road and we crossed the Jubilee roundabout onto the A53. We climbed the hill up into basford and then we ran down into Etruria. As we crossed the A500 we saw an unidentified white coach joining the A500. We continued along the A53 and we saw ABC Supreme Y368 TGE. We turned left onto Forge Lane We ran out along the Lane and we crossed over the canal before we returned back into Etruria along festival Way. We crossed under the A53 onto Etruria Road. We continued forwards onto Trinity Street and we turned right onto Stafford Street. We went past the town hall and we entered the bus station off Bagnall Street. Once we got off the bus we went to the toilet and then we walked over to John Street car park to go and take a few bus pictures. On the way we saw First Potteries 32650, on layover in between #32's to Uttoxeter.

First Potteries 32650 in Hanley bus station

We went into the car park and up the stairs and we saw First Potteries 41494 which was on layover.

First Potteries 41494 in Hanley bus station

A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 66845 on a #25 to Keele.

First Potteries 66845 in Hanley bus station

Whilst we were there Matthew had a bag of Milky Stars and a bottle of Irn Bru. We didn't stop in the car park long as it was bitter cold in the wind. We headed back to the bus station and as we got to the entrance we saw a taxi minibus pull up outside. Wewent to get a closer look and we saw that it was Autocabs Y40 UBC. We then went into the bus station and into the shop. Matthew had a can of Coke and a small bottle of Irn Bru as well as a couple of chocolate bars. I did think we might go somewhere different today but we sat down by the Biddulph stop to wait for the next #7A to Biddulph. The bus appeared on stand and it was First Potteries 41501.

First Potteries 41501 in Hanley bus station

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. As we left the bus station we saw Skills SIL 9543 on a National Express #387 service to Blackpool. We set off out of the bus station and we ran down John Street. We turned right onto Bethesda Street and we crossed Broad street onto Marsh Street. We turned right onto Trinity Street and we stopped on Stafford Street to to pick up more passengers before we left town along Quadrant Road. We crossed over the ring road and we headed out of town towards Sneyd Green along Town Road. We continued to Smallthorne roundabouts and we continued forwards onto High Lane. At the end of High Lane we turned right onto the A527 and we ran down the hill through Fegg Hayes and up into Brindley Ford. We continued up towards Knyperlsey and we turned left onto Brown Lees Road. We ran through the estate and we crossed over the A527 and into the Biddulph estate. We went passed the barley Mow and we turned left onto St John's Road. At the end we re-joined the A527 and we ran North past the sight of the new KFC. We entered the town at Wharf Road and we stopped at the bus station. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 41501 before it returned to Hanley.

First Potteries 41501 in Biddulph bus station

As it was Christmas Eve and the buses were finishing just after 18:00, we didn't have time to get fried from the kebab shop today. We went to the toilet which were surprisingly still open and we when we came out we saw D&G 160 about to work the next 'Nines' service to Newcastle.

D&G 160 in Biddulph bus station

Matthew didn't want to to the Versa, so we let it go and Matthew had a Milky Way and a bottle of Irn Bru at the bus stop. A few minutes later the next bu turned up. It was dud First Potteries 43876 on a #7A to Hanley.

First Potteries 43876 in Biddulph bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver. The bus was empty when we got on it so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 43876 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside First Potteries 43876

The bus set off onto the High Street and we turned left onto Wells Street. We ran around the estate and we crossed over the A527 at Knypersley We ran along the diversion along Lyneside Road, Lotus Avenue and Mansfield Drive before rejoining the normal route through Brown Lees 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 the bus station we went to look for a bus to get us to Newcastle where we arranged to meet mum. At the bottom of the bus station we saw a #25 to Keele. Closer inspection revealed it was dud First Potteries 66852.

First Potteries 66852 in Hanley bus station

We waited for the driver to ready the bus and we saw a National Express coach go by on the ring road. We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver for the last time today before we saw down towards the back of the bus. The coach that we had just seen came into the bus station and it was DeCourcey Travel (National Express) FJ11 MKZ on the #540 service. We set off out of the bus station and we ran down John Street onto Bethesda street where we crossed over the ring road. We ran down through Shelton along Cauldon Road and we turned left onto Station Road outside the railway station. We went forwards onto A52 and we followed the road around to the right and under the railway line. We crossed over the A500 ans we ran into Stoke centre along Church Street. We went out of the other side of Stoke and up Hartshill Road into Hartshill. We turned left into The Avenue and we ran down to Hilton Road and we turned right into the hospital. We ran through the hospital and we turned right onto the A34. We ran up to Newcastle and forwards onto Barracks Road at the rounsabout. We came into the bus station from the South and we got up and got off the bus. It was now fully dark. On the way out of the bus station we saw D&G 115 on a #74 to Park Site.

D&G 115 in Newcastle bus station

We walked across Barracks Road and we met up with mum in the car park. Mum was waiting with Greggs sausage rolls and a small bottle of Irn Bru. We set off down barracks Road and onto the A34. We went past the hospital into Trent Vale and we stop at the chip shop to pick up some chips to share between us. Once we had finished we continued South to the A500 and then we went North up the A500 to Sideway. We went East on the A50 and we came off at Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. In the first row was Z Carz Renault minibus BU04 GYW.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

Also in the front row was Z Carz Ford minibus GL04 CVE.

Z Carz GL04 CVE in Longton

At the front of the second row was Z Carz Renault minibus X848 JFR. We turned into Willow Row to see what was parked in the compound tonight. On the road outside was Z Carz Vauxhall minibus DG10 VMJ.

Z Carz DG10 VMJ in Longton

In the compound we saw Z Carz Iveco minibus YJ53 WPD.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we ran fast to Heron Cross before going onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and right onto Church Road before we turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive. We got home around 18:30. for a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until the early hours on Christmas Day... Mark