Trip to Potteries Apedale Running day 29-08-2021

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
65034	Apedale Light Railway	Hanley BS	Special	First Potteries
67155	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	4A	First Potteries
65029	Newcastle BS	Apedale Light Railway	Special	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to his day service. He was also going out the the POPS rally, which this years was being held at the Apedale Heritage Centre. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Whilst waiting to go to the day service we saw silver minibus EF17 KWM parked up outside. We to pick Matthew up. We also arranged to meet uncle Dave outside the residential unit. I arrived at the residential unit about 10:00 and we went downstairs and met up with uncle Dave. We set of onto Temple Street and we turned left onto Smithpool Road and we to pick uncle Dave up. We ran up Smithpool Road and we turned left onto City Road and we headed down the road into Stoke. We ran under the railway line and we crossed the A500. We ran forwards onto Church Street and we ran around Stoke town centre on the one-way system. We turned left onto Lonsdale Street and we turned right onto Flemming Road. We turned right onto Campbell Place and we ran forwards onto Church Street. We ran forwards onto Hartshill Road and we went up the hill through Hartshill. We ran forwards onto George Street and we turned left onto Barracks Road. We turned right onto the Northbound A34 to Chesterton. We turned left onto Wolstanton Road and at the next roundabout we turned left onto Loomer Road. We ran to the end of Loomer Road and into Apedale Country park. We parked up near to the visitors centre and as it was uncle Dave's first visit we took him down to the Apedale Valley Light Railway. We set off up the car park and onto the service road in from of the staium and headed towards the Boothen end behind which all the buses were parked up. As we got to the corner we saw Crosville ERL267 arriving on site.

Crosville ERL267 in Apedale Light Railway

Also in the bus station was First Potteries 65029 on the shuttle bus to Hanley.

First Potteries 65029 in Apedale Light Railway

We decided to go around and take picture of as many of the buses as we can before we did anything else. We set off up the row and we saw Robinson's Holidays 206.

Robinson's Holidays 206 in Apedale Light Railway

As we carried on in a clockwise circle of the site we saw Western Welsh ABO 145B parked up. There was a little time before the last required coach was going to work so we had a quick walk around the rally site again. We saw Roadside Safety FN06 CDE parked up.

Roadside Safety FN06 CDE in Apedale Light Railway

One that was was running was former Arriva London now Space Buzz WSU 812. As we waited we saw dud GM Buses 3253 returning after working a service.

GM Buses 3253 in Apedale Light Railway

After we had done a lap of the site we went to the top end to wait for mum to arrive. Whilst we waited we saw MerseyBus 261 arrive on site. Matthew went to the toilet. Matthew had washed down with a can of Coke. He also helped me and his mum eat breakfast. When we had finished we went outside to get another bus. We spotted Bournemouth 55 on a service to Hanley. We got on the bus and we sat down towards the back. We set off along Loomer Road and at the roundabout we turned right onto London Road. We ran to the end and we turned right onto the Southbound A34. We ran Southwards for around a mile and a 1/2 past the bus garage, and we turned left onto Ryecroft. At the roundabout we turned right onto barracks Road and we entered Newcastle bus station. After a brief stop we set off onto Barracks Road. We crossed the Jubilee Roundabout and onto the A53 and around the one-way system onto the A52. We ran up George Street into Hartshill and we ran down the hill into Stoke town centre and onto Church Street. We followed the A52 under the railway line and towards the railway station and we turned left onto Station Road. Just after the station we turned right onto College Road. After running the hill through Shelton we continued onto Cleveland Road and forwards onto Regent Road. We turned left onto Lower Bethesda Street and we crossed over the ring road onto Bethesda Street before we turned right onto John Street and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew went to the toilet First Potteries 63099 was on a #3 to Crewe. Once we got off the bus we went inside the bus station we saw Whippet FX19 on a #023 to Shudehill.

Whippet FX19 in Hanley bus station

We continued down John Street. We turned right onto Bethesda Street and we turned right onto Lanelagh Street and the bottom was the harry Shaw garage. We saw coches including BL64 MFK. When we had finished we walked back up Ranelagh Street and we crossed over the ring road to meet mum at the Venus Fish Bar. For dinner Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a can of Coke. whilst we ate we saw JMS Topgear Travel JM54 BUS. After eating dinner we set off back towards the bus station. We waited for a bus back to Newcastle. A short time later we saw. The bus appeared and it was First Potteries 67155 on a #4A to Kidsgrove. We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle before we sat down. We set off out of the bus station onto john Street and right onto Bethesda Street. We turned left onto Broad Street and then we joined the clockwise ring road. At the end we turned left onto Etruria Road before going under the A53 onto Festival Way. We ran past Waterworld and we turned left onto Forge Lane past a new minibus building by the Brindley Farm pub. We looped under the A53 and we joined the Westbound A53. We crossed over the A500 at Etruria and and we ran up the hill into Basford. We ran down hill to the edge of Newcastle and we got onto the one way system. At the jubilee roundabout we turned left onto Barracks Road before turning right into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and we set of up Castle Walk. we turned left onto Ironmarket. Castle Walk and we stopped at the toilet. After using the toilet we went to the bus station and we waited for a bus towards Fenton. A short time later we saw First Potteries 63116 on a #72 to Westbury Park.

First Potteries 63116 in Newcastle bus station

A short time later we saw it was former South Yorkshire bus, First Potteries 63034 on a #25 to Hanley. A short time later our bus appeared. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 65029 on the shuttle bus to Apedale. We got on the bus and we set down near to the back of the bus. We set off onto the bus station onto Barracks Road. We turned left onto Ryecroft and right onto the A34. We continued North through Cross Heath and we turned left onto london Road. At the roundabout we turned left onto Loomer Road and we ran into the site and unloaded in front of the heritage centre where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 65029 before returning back to Hanley on a #18.

First Potteries 65029 in Apedale Light Railway

we walked down to the bottom of the site and we asked the which were the next few buses out, most of the buses we saw London Transport RM467. and we stopped at an ice cream van and Matthew had an ice cream. After we had finished eating the ice cream. One of the first buses we spotted Hulleys of Baslow 7.

Hulleys of Baslow 7 in Apedale Light Railway

We returned to the car and we met up with mum and uncle Dave. We got in the car and we set off out of the Apedale Country Park onto Loomer Road and we diverted into Turner Crescent past the depot and we saw E-zec patient transport minibuses. We continued along Loomer Road and we turned sharp right onto London Road. We turned right onto Holditch Road and left onto Bymbo Road. We continuned along the A34 through Cross Heath and into Newcastle. As we passed the depot which was empty. We turned left onto Ryecroft and at the roundabout we turned right onto Barracks Road. We continued onto the Southbound A34 and we turned left onto The Avenue. Travelling up towards Hartshill. At the end we turned right onto Hartshill Road. We ran down to Stoke and onto the one way system. We turned right onto Elenora Street and we followed the road around onto Copeland Street. We ran forwards onto Glebe Street and we followed the one way system onto Church Street. We crossed over the A500 onto City Road and we went under the railway line. We ran up the hill into Fenton and we turned right onto Smithpool Road. We turned left into Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs and we room. Matthew also drank a can of Irn Bru. For tea Matthew had a chicken and potatoes. Matthew went back to the room and went on his computer. Later on Matthew had a bath and then had toast for supper. He then chilled out in his room until bedtime around 23:00... Mark.