Trip to Apedale / Newcastle 12-05-2024

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
801	Apedale Light Railway	Newcastle BS	Special	PMT
2	Newcastle BS	Apedale Light Railway	Special	Chase

Today we were going to the bus rally at Apedale. We hadn't heard much about this and there wasn't much indication if the buses would be giving bus rides. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and some cranberry juice which he didn't like much. We set off around 10:20 to pick up uncle Dave. We got in the car and we set off through Blurton and we ran along Beaconsfield Drive. We turned right onto Finstock Avenue and right onto Emsworth Road. We returned to the house to check the door was locked and afterwards we ran through Blurton and onto Finstock Avenue. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road past the former Coral shop which is new going to be flats. We ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross and over the A50. At Heron Cross lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Once we had picked up uncle Dave, we continued back up Wheildon Road. We ran down to the A500 and we turned left onto Church Street. We went around the one-way system. We pulled into Hide Street and stopped at the bank. Afterwards we went down Hill Street and re-joined the one-way system. We followed the road back onto Church Street and we ran up the hill into Hartshill passing blue minibus CA21 VFR. We continued down to the edge of Newcastle. We continued down to the jubilee roundabout and we turned right into Ryecroft. 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. As we walked into the site we saw PMT 207 waiting with the next bus to Newcastle.

PMT 207 in Apedale Light Railway

We had a quick chat to one of the organisers who informed us there would be a 0 minute frequency bus to Newcastle. After we had seen the train we went into the heritage centre for dinner. After Matthew had been to the toilet, he had a full English breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. Whilst we ate we saw Wallasey Corporation 1 arrive on site. When we had finished eating we walked down to the bottom of the site. We saw First Manchester 69154 with decals for the #582 servcie from Bolton to Leigh.

First Manchester 69154 in Apedale Light Railway

Further down the site was Chase 2 parked up.

Chase 2 in Apedale Light Railway

There were probably only about 8 buses on site on totoal, and there were perhaps 4 or 5 stalls with these buses. We had a quick look at the stalls but we didn't buy anything at this point. We walked up to the top of the site to see what was on the 11:30 to Newcastle. We arrived at the stop and we saw PMT 801 loading up to work the next service.

First PMT 801 in Apedale Light Railway

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. We turned left onto Barracks Road. We turned right into the bus station and we stopped on Stubbs Street where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew got a picture of PMT 801 before it returned to Apedale.

First PMT 801 in Newcastle bus station

We decided to wait for the following bus. Whilst we waited we saw D&G Bus 50 on a #1 to Audley.

D&G Bus 50 in Newcastle bus station

We decided to go to Costa Coffee for a cake and a drink. We set off up castle Walk and Matthew went to the toilet with uncle Dave and I ordered the food and drink. Matthew had a slice of millionaires shortbread washed down with a bottle of Coke. When we had finished we walked back down Castle Walk into the bus station. We saw First Potteries 35939 on a #25 to Hanley.

First Potteries 35939 in Newcastle bus station

We went down to the bench at the bottom and waited for the bus, A few minutes later we saw the bus at theother end of the bus station. We saw it was Chase 2 on a service to Apedale.

Chase 2 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the sat down towards the back of the bus. Once everyone was on board we set off down Stubbs Street and we re-joined 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. Parked up nearby was Elysium Healthcare HT21 NYF.

Elysium Healthcare HT21 NYF in Apedale Light Railway

We walked down to the bottom of the site and we had a look around the stalls. We bough some photos from the Telford Bus Group and we bough a stagecoach bus seat from the 69154 preservation group. We walked to the site entrance and we got in the car and we set off out of the Apedale Country Park onto Loomer Road and at the roundabout we at the roundabout we went forwards onto Wolstanton Road. We crossed over the the Southbound A34. We ran Southwards for around a mile and a 1/2 past the bus garage, and we turned left 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. We dropped down into Fenton and we climbed up the hill and over the old railway line to Leek. We ran through Foley and we under the railway line into Longton town centre. We ran up Market Street and we turned left onto Anchor Road. We turned right onto Sutherland Road and we turned left onto Weston Coyney Road. We drove inti the Cinder Hill industrial estate to see if there were any different trains in Reids. There was a French Sleeping car that had been there for a month. We re-joined Weston Coyney Road and past a building site of the new Lidl and at the end we turned left onto the A520. We turned left onto the A5272 and we saw silver minibus MK19 NGV. We turned right onto Hulme Road and we turned into Park Hill towards the visitors centre. We parked uo and Matthew used the disabled toilet. We got back in the car and we set off past the site of the new playground onto Hulme Road. We turned right onto the A5272 and left towards Scraggs depot. Unusually the gate was open and we saw Scraggs 1 HVT parked up in the yard.

Scraggs 1 HVT in Adderley Green

We turned around and we headed back onto the A5272. At the roundabout we turned left onto Anchor Road past the new housing estate. We turned right onto Mossfield Road and we ran to the very end. We battle through the undergrowth and we had a look at the buses in the D&G Bus garage. We saw D&G Bus 25 parked up.

D&G Bus 25 in Adderley Green

Also see was D&G Bus 42 in it's unique blu livery.

D&G Bus 42 in Adderley Green

Another vehicle seen was D&G Bus 44 which was in the depot on the ramp.

D&G Bus 44 in Adderley Green

Another vehicle seen was D&G Bus 798 in the new red and blue livery.

D&G Bus 798 in Adderley Green

Also seen was D&G Bus 108 with it's new rear advert.

D&G Bus 108 in Adderley Green

We got back in the car and we drove to the other end of Mossfield Road and we parked in a small layby. We walked down the footpath over the site of the old Wass' market down to the Adderley Green garage. In the corner of the garage we saw First Potteries 63118 parked up.

First Potteries 63118 in Adderley Green

behind that was Bee Network First Manchester 69506 and an unidentified Bee Network Streetlite. Also in the corner of the yards was First Potteries 63357 parked up.

First Potteries 63357 in Adderley Green

Also in this pat of the yard was spare liveried First Potteries 63178.

First Potteries 63178 in Adderley Green

We continued up the side of the depot and we saw a couple of Mainline orange liveried Streetlites on the jacks. We walked onto the A5272 and we headed Eastwards. by the road over the hedge we saw First Potteries driver trainer 69383.

First Potteries 69383 in Adderley Green

Along side it was the other trainer First Potteries 69382.

First Potteries 69382 in Adderley Green

Unusually at the front of the depot was First Potteries Streetlite 63347

First Potteries 63347 in Adderley Green

Parked at the front in it's usual position was First Potteries Enviro200 44511.

First Potteries 44511 in Adderley Green

Similarly was saw First Potteries 44514 in it's usual position at the front of the depot. We walked around the side behind the garage. We saw First Potteries 67154 in the E200MMC row.

First Potteries 67154 in Adderley Green

Continuing down the E200MMC row we saw First Potteries 67159 with it's commerative PMT decals.

First Potteries 67159 in Adderley Green

One of the E200MMC from the South Coast was First Potteries 67174.

First Potteries 67174 in Adderley Green

In its special Diamond Jubilee livery we saw First Potteries 67153.

First Potteries 67153 in Adderley Green

Notable for having very small rear fleet numbers is First Potteries 67156.

First Potteries 67156 in Adderley Green

Last bus in the row of E200 MMC's was First Potteries 67155.

First Potteries 67155 in Adderley Green

Beyond the E200MMC is where most of the double deckers are kept. On the end of the row in York University livery was First Potteries 35934.

First Potteries 35934 in Adderley Green

Another former York bus was First Potteries 35935.

First Potteries 35935 in Adderley Green

We walked past the pertol station onto Anchor Road and we turned right onto the path behind the depot. As we walked along the path of note were Bee Network trainer 69384, 47633 and 69509. We turned left over Wass's site footpath and we walked up the hill back to the car. We got in the car and Matthew had a can of Cherry Coke. We set off along Mossfield Drive and we turned right onto Anchor Road. We ran down the hill into Longton and we turned left onto Uttoxeter Road. We turned right onto Commerce Street and at the roundabout we turned right onto THe Strand. We ran through Longton and we went under the railway bridge onto King Street. We ran through Fopleyinti Fenton and we turned left onto Duke Street. We turned left onto the Link Road and we turned right onto the high level A50. At the roundabout we turned left onto Blurton Road. We continued through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Street. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got back around 14:30. When we got back Matthew chiled out on his computer and we downloaded our pictures from today. I nipped out to Aldi to pick up some supplies for rea. The included a bottle of Coke to have through the afternoon and a scotch egg for a snack. For tea Matthew had some ham sandwiches wshed down with a glass of Coke. We did some more of the Blog and we chilled out until just before 20:00 when we went to take uncle Dave home. We got in the car and we set off through Burton and we ran along Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Street and left onto Blurton Road. We crossed over the A50 and we ran into Heron Cross lights. We turned left onto Grove Road and we ran forwards onto Wheildon Road. We turned right onto Sutherland Street and right onto Claredon Street. We parked up at the end and we walked to the railway bridge. Just in time to see DCR 56103 & 56098 go past on an empty sand train from Ravenhead to Chaddesden Sidings. We headed back onto Wheildon Road and we droppoed off uncle Dave. We dropped off uncle Dave and we ran back up Wheildon Road and forwards onto Grove Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We ran through Blurton and at the roundabout we veered right onto Church Street. We turned right onto the A5035 and back to Blurton. Later on we did some more of the Blog and had a bottle of Coke. Matthew had a bath and afterwards we had some New York Cheesecake. We chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark