Trip to the POPS rally 24-06-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
JTF 218F	Bet 365 Stadium	Stone, Crown Street	Special	Stanton's of Stoke
JTF 218F	Stone, Crown Street	Bet 365 Stadium	Special	Stanton's of Stoke
2599	Bet 365 Stadium	Trentham Gardens	Special	Ulsterbus
2599	Trentham Gardens	Bet 365 Stadium	Special	Ulsterbus
14	Bet 365 Stadium	Trentham, A34 adjacent Gardens	Special	Stevesons
DVG 266	Trentham, A34 adjacent Gardens	Bet 365 Stadium	Special	Crosville
312	Bet 365 Stadium	Stone, Crown Street	Special	Green Bus
312	Stone, Crown Street	Bet 365 Stadium	Special	Green Bus

Today was the highlight of Matthew's social calender, the main POPS rally at the BET 365 stadium. There was no research to be done as we did not know what buses would be in attendance or the timetable being used until we arrived on site. The weather was forcast for fine sunny weather all day. Matthew got up 08:00 and was bouning around with excitment. Uncle Dave who stopped over ready for today's trip made him soem toast and gave him some orange juice for breakfast. Matthew had to wait until gone 10:30 before I returned home from work. We made some sandwiches and packed a bag and we jumped into the car. It was only a 2 mile trip or so to the BET365 stadium. We set off onto the A5035 and we turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way. At the other end we turned left at the roundabout by the stadium and we parked up as direct by the stewads in front of the West Stand. 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 Invincible coach NTU 191L arriving on site.

Invincible NTU 191L in BET365 Stadium

At the corner of the site were a group of stalls. Supporting one of the stalls was WM BUses Leyland Lynx 1266

WM Travel 1266 in BET365 Stadium

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 Blackpool Transport Leylane Atlantean 353.

Blackpool Transport 353 in BET365 Stadium

Further up the row was ex PMT Leyland Olympian 757 which has be re-painted back into the colour it was delivered in back in the late 1980's.

PMT 757 in BET365 Stadium

Towards the top end of the row we saw Bassetts Leyland coach JRE 354V.

Bassetts JRE 354V in BET365 Stadium

Towards the top end of the row was ex National Express West Midlands Plaxton President 4112, now 312 in the Green Bus fleet.

Green Bus 312 in BET365 Stadium

We said hell to the ice cream man who is our own ice cream man, and we went to the top end of the site where there more coaches and buses parked up. We saw Stanton's of Stoke new coach 222 GGX in this row.

Stanton's of Stoke 222 GGX in BET365 Stadium

whilst we were up there we saw Stanton's of Stoke JTF 218F going out on a short run.

Stanton's of Stoke JTF 218F in BET365 Stadium

We walked down the back end of the site and down the row of buses and coaches. We saw dud GM Buses Leyland coach 81 there.

GM Buses 81 in BET365 Stadium

Also in the row was First Potteries newest vehicle 67159.

First Potteries 67159 in BET365 Stadium

Towards the bottom of the site were the Copeland's Tours coaches. One of the 4 Bovas on show was Copeland's Tours coach MIB 746.

Copeland's Tours MIB 746 in BET365 Stadium

At the very bottom of the site was Orion Travel tri-axle coach OR10 NTX.

Orion Travel OR10 NTX in BET365 Stadium

We found the control bus and we brought a program for the event at £3. We walked up towards the middle of the site and we saw Midland General Bristol 148.

Midland General 148 in BET365 Stadium

Further up the site was required Crosville DVG 266 which had just arrived back on site.

Crosville DVG 266 in BET365 Stadium

We walked up the side of the Botthen end where there were more stalls and we went inside so Matthew could use the toilet. He also went to see Dave Spencer on the PMP Video stall and he brought a DVD. We went outside and we sat down for a short while whilst we worked out what buses we could do. there din't seem to be much out that we hadn't already had Crosville DVG 266 was due to work at some point as was Blackppol Transport 225 and the Orion Travel coach. Everything else was the same as usually work at most of the local rallies. We saw Green Bus 312 about to depart on a Trentham Gardens service so we walked down towards it and it pulled off as we got there. The next one off was the 12:30 was booked to be Prentice of Haddington MFS 444P. It was a bus I could remember seeing today and I guess it was one that didn't make it today, as the bus was replaced by Stanton's of Stoke open-topped double decker JTF 218F. We decided to do this bus as we hdn't been on it for a while. We got on the bus and we went upstiars. One of Matthew's old bus escorts was on board but he didn't seem to keen to chat! We set off onto Stanley Matthews way and we ran to the Southern end. We turned right onto the A5035 and we ran into Trentham and the roundabout on the A34. We turned left onto the A34 and we had a spirited run past the Monkey Forest and through Tittensor. We continued down to Darlaston and we ran past Stone through the Fillybrooks before turning left onto Stafford Street and then left onto Crown Street where we stopped. We got off and we took a picture of Stanton's of Stoke JTF 218F.

Stanton's of Stoke JTF 218F in Stone

We decided to go back North on Stanton's of Stoke JTF 218F. When we got back on people on the top deck had spaced out so we had to go downstairs. The bus set off Back North up Newcastle Road and onto the A34. As we passed the Monkey Forest roundabout we saw Stanton's of Stoke double decker WSV 530 which had worked a duplicate Trentham service. We carried on North up to Trentham before taking the A5035 back to Stanley Matthew Way. As we ran down Stanley Matthews Way we passed required Blackpool Transport 225 on the 13:15 to Trentham Gardens. We turned left at the roundabout and then into the Stadium. Once we got back we walked back to the car and grabbed the supplies for the packed lunch. We ate cocktail sausage and we made up manwiches with baps and slices of chicken. We also went into the Boothen end and we got a couple of bottles of Tango Orange between us. Once we had finished eating we looked for something to catch back. We spotted Ulsterbus 2599 which was about to work a duplicate service to Trentham Gardens, so we decided to do that.

Ulsterbus 2599 in BET365 Stadium

We got on the bus and we sat down near to the front on the right hand side. The bus set off out of the stadium and onto the Southbound Stanley Matthews Way. We joined the A5035 and we headed into Trentham. We carried on to the end of the road where we crossed over the A34 and went into the main entrance of the gardens. We turned left past Frankie and Benny's and we circled around the car park to the coach drop off point. We got off the bus to take another picture of Ulsterbus 2599.

Ulsterbus 2599 at Trentham Gardens

We got on the bus and at the roundabout we turned right onto the A34. We ran down to the Monkey Forest roundabout and we did a U-turn. We ran back up North and as there was nobody waiting at the lay-by at the top end we carried on to the roundabout. We turned right at the roundabout and the bus headed back onto the A5035. We turned left onto Stanley Matthews and we ran back to the stadium. As we apporached the roundabout we passed Orion Travel OR10 NTX going the other way. As we had missed the 14:30 to Stone we went into the Boothen end and used the toilet again. We went outside to see what was on the 14:45 to Trentham. It was booked to be Crosville DVG 155, but Stevenson 14 turned up to work the service.

Stevensons 14 in BET365 Stadium

We decided to do this bus anyway, so we got on and we sat down near the front on the right hand side. The bus set off out of the stadium and onto the Southbound Stanley Matthews Way. We joined the A5035 and we headed into Trentham. We carried on to the end of the road where we turned left onto the A34. We ran down to the Monkry Forest roundabout where we did a u-turn and headed back up the A34. Towards the top end of the stretch at the back of the Premier Inn, we pulled over into the layby, passing required Crosville DVG 266 going the other way. We got off the coach and we took another picture of Stevensons 14.

Stevensons 14 in Trentham

It occur to us that if the other bus stopped, we could transfer over on to it. We waited at the back end of the coach waiting for the double decker to come into sight. The bus appeared from around the corner and we stuck a hand out to flag it down. To our relief the bus did dtop and Matthew got a picture of Crosville DVG 266 as it pulled up.

Crosville DVG 266 in Trentham

We got on the bus and we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off onto the Northbound A34 and we turned right onto the A5035. We ran over the railway line into Blurton and we turned left into Stanley Matthews Way. We ran down to the stadium and we let the bus empty before Matthew took a picture inside Crosville DVG 266.

Inside Crosville DVG 266

The bus had got back quite early so we had time to go to the toilet and Matthew also brough a few pictures from one of the stalls. We were expecting a run on ex PMT Olympian, but the driver was nowhere to be seen. Ulsterbus 2599 went down to the stop first which was a little disappointing, but behind that was required Green Bus 312, which we decided to do.

Green Bus 312 in BET365 Stadium

We got on the bus and the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Green Bus 312.

Inside Green Bus 312

We set off onto Stanley Matthews way and we ran to the Southern end. We turned right onto the A5035 and we ran into Trentham and the roundabout on the A34. We turned left onto the A34 and as we ran Southwards we overtook Ulsterbus 2599 which was chugging away considerable slower than we were. We went past the Monkey Forest and through Tittensor. We continued down to Darlaston and we ran past Stone through the Fillybrooks before turning left onto Stafford Street. As we past West Bridge Park fitness centre wher they are building a new leisure centre.

New leisure centre in Stone

We continued along Stafford Road and we turned left onto Crown Street. We got off the bus and Matthew went to the toilet even though he had only just been. Behind us was First Potteries 67154 on a #101 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67154 in Stone

Eventually, Ulsterbus 2599 arrived at the stop and passengers transferred between the 2 buses. We decided to have another run on Green Bus 312 so we got back on and went upstairs again. The bus set off Back North up Newcastle Road and onto the A34. we continued past the Monkey Forest and up the A34. We carried on North up to Trentham before taking the A5035 back to Stanley Matthew Way. As we ran down Stanley Matthews Way and then into the Stadium. Once we got off the bus we had a quick walk around and took a few more picture before we went home. One of the bus had driven down to pick uo the support stall and nit's contents. Matthew took another picture of GM Buses 2032.

GM Buses 2032 in BET365 Stadium

We set off back towards the car and we took took a few pictures of the bus arrvng and leaving the site. We saw PMT Bristol VRT 604 which was on the 16:30 to Hanley.

PMT 604 in BET365 Stadium

Also seen was the award winning Robin Hood coach RIB 8289 that won the Michael Burns Memorial Trophy.

Robin Hood RIB 8289 in BET365 Stadium

We retruned to the car and we set off up to Stanley Matthews Way and over the A50. We ran up to Heron Cross and we turned left onto Blurton Road. We dropped uncle Dave off and Matthew went in to add a few dates to his calender. We said goodbye to uncle Dave and we ran back up to Heron Cross. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We saw Lightning Travel MX54 VVF at the lightning house and we continued into Blurton. We veered right onto Church Road and we turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Finstock Avenue and we saw Z Carz PE10 MJK parked up in it's usual spot. We got home around 17:00. Matthew watched his new DVD and we uploaded the new pictures online. We continued to write Blog enterries for earlier in the week. For a late tea we had a fishfinger sandwich washed down with a small bottle of Coke. Later on Matthew had a bath and we continued to write Blog enteries. When mum got back we went to bed around 01:00... Mark.

Trip to Newcastle / Biddulph 23-06-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67655	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	22	First Potteries
42552	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop R	21A	First Potteries
67636	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	25	First Potteries
67651	Newcastle BS	Stoke, adj stop A	11	First Potteries
67151	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Hanley BS	23A	First Potteries
67601	Hanley BS	Tunstall, adj stop B	7A	First Potteries
67658	Tunstall, adj stop B	Hanley BS	3	First Potteries
67637	Hanley BS	Biddulph BS	7A	First Potteries
67603	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries
67665	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	4	First Potteries

Today we decided to do a local trip. We checked the weather for today and it was for dry weather with some sunshine. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We decided do catch the 11:51 departure towards Newcastle today. We set off on foot to the bus stop all the way onto Magdalen Road. Whilst we waited for our bus we saw First Potteries 63100 on a #22 to Longton. A few minutes later our bus appeared and it was First Potteries 67655 on a #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67655 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked a Smart Day ticket at £5.30. This ticket is a multi-operator ticket valid throughout the North Staffordshire area. We sat down ear to the back of the bus and the bus set off onto the A5035. We went past the Trentham Hotel we turned right into New Inn Lane where we saw First Potteries 42552 was on the #21A to Hanley. Assuming we didn't hang around too long, we would be on this bus to Stoke. We got up to get off the bus at the man in Space and Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 63101 before it carried on to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67655 in Trentham

Once we got off the bus we waited at the bus stop for a couple of minutes. A couple of minutes later we saw the First Potteries. As expected it was First Potteries 42552 on the #21A to Hanley.

First Potteries 42552 in Trentham

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 42552 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside First Potteries 42552

We set off up New Inn Lane and we turned right into Wilson Road an then left into Church Lane we saw First Potteries 67656 on a #22 to Longton. We joined the A34 and we ran under the A500 into Trent Vale. We turned right into London Road and we ran through Oak Hill and the the West End before running into Stoke Town centre and Campbell Place. There was nothing of interest parked up in City cabs and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 42552 before it carried on towards Hanley.

First Potteries 42552 in Stoke

Once we got off the bus we walked towards The centre of Stoke. We went around the corner into Church Street to Stoke Cafe. Uncle Dave escorted Matthew downstairs to the toilet and I ordered the food. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we walked down Church Street to the Newcastle bus stop. When we got to the stop we waited for the the next Newcastle bus to appear. Whilst we waited A few minutes later we saw an Enviro300 approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67636 on the #25 to Keele.

First Potteries 67636 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Church Street and off up the hill along Hartshill Road. We passed the Noah's Ark pub and Just after the pub we turned left by the Co-operative Food store and we headed to the hospital. We bounced our way through the hospital grounds over the severe speed bumps and we joined the North bound A34. We went around the roundabout at the bottom end of Newcastle and we turned right onto Barracks Road before entering the bus station from the Southern end. Once off the bus we saw D&G bus 140 on layover in between working on the #94 to Congleton.

D&G 140 in Newcastle bus station

We walked down to the bottom end of the bus station whilet we decided what to catch next. We saw First Potteries 32639 on a #99 to Chell Heath.

First Potteries 32639 in Newcastle bus station

Whilslt we decided what to do Matthew ate a double Milky Way. We then saw First Potteries 37146 on a #101 to Hanley and we got up to do this. On the way up the bus station we saw First Potteries 67651 on a #11 to Hanley,

First Potteries 67651 in Newcastle bus station

Matthew decided he wanted to the Enviro300 instead. We got on the bus and and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. When we got on I thought that we would probably be doing this bus to Stoke or Adderley Green. We set off onto Barracks Road and we ran up to the Jubilee roundabout. We ran 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 towards Stoke town centre. Approaching Stoke Matthew decided he wanted to get off the bus so e rang the bell got up and got off. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67651 before it carried on towards Adderley Green.

First Potteries 67651 in Stoke

We continued down the road and we saw First Potteries 67151 on a #23A to Hanley.

First Potteries 67151 in Stoke

Matthew decided he wanted to do this bus so we got on and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Church Street in the direction of Newcastle. We followed the one-way system around onto Elenora Street and right onto Copeland Street. We turned left onto Glebe Street and we ran under the railway line before turning left onto Station Road. After stopping briefly outside the railway station we turned right onto College Road and we ran up the hill through Shelton. We continued onto Cleveland Road and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We crossed over the ring road and we continued along Bethesda Street before turning right onto John Street. We ran up the hill into the bus station and onto stand. Once in the bus station we got up and got off the bus. In the bus station we saw First Potteries 65705 on a #3 to Crewe. Matthew went to the toilet and then we headed up to John Street car park to take a few bus pictures. We saw D&G Bus 110 on a #16 to Leek.

D&G 110 in Hanley bus station

A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 63171 on a #7 to Kidsgrove.

First Potteries 63171 in Hanley bus station

A Scania Omnicity arrived into the bus station and went on layover. It was First Potteries 65041 on a engineering road test.

First Potteries 65041 in Hanley bus station

Also seen was D&G Bus 39 on a #2 to Birches Head.

D&G 39 in Hanley bus station

After a while we decided to return to the bus station to catch another bus. We went into the bus station and it was First Potteries 67601 arrive on the #3 to Crewe.

First Potteries 67601 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner and we sat down at the back of the bus. It was well loaded and when we stopped in Stafford Street we picked up a few more passengers. We carried on out of town into Cobridge and into Burslem and the bus started to empty out a little. We carried on along Scotia Road and along Williamson Street before going up Tunstall High Street. At the top of the High Street we got up and got off the bus. Matthew then got another picture of First Potteries 67601.

First Potteries 67601 in Tunstall

We headed into the Tunstall Cafe and Matthew went to the toilet whilst I ordered him a slice of toffee cheesecake and a can of Coke. It didn't take long for him to demolish the cheesecake and we were back out on the street less than minutes. We waited at stop A, as there was a #99 that was due. Across the road we saw First Potteries 67658 on a #3 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67658 in Tunstall

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We went down the High Street and we turned left into Williamson Street. We turned right into Scotia Road and we ran into Burslem town centre. We continued into Cobridge and down into Hanley. We joined Hope Street and we ran forwards to Stafford Street. After going past the town hall we entered the bus station via Bagnall Street. Once we got off the bus we sat down by the biddulph stop to wait for the next bus. We identified the bus that we thought was going to work the next #7A as First Potteries 67637. There was an engineer on board with the driver, and the bus didn't come straight on stand, doing a magic roundabout a couple of time around the bus station before eventually pulling on stand.

First Potteries 67637 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 67637 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside First Potteries 67637

The bus was slightly delayed and set off out of the bus station as soon as it had loaded. 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 continued forwards to Quadrant Road and we left Hanley along Town Road. We travelled through Sneyd Green and over Smallthorne roundabouts to Chell. At the roundabout we turned right and we ran down the A527 through Brindley Ford. We turned left to run through Brown Lees. 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, Colliers Way and up Wharf Road to the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67637 before it carried on back to Hanley.

First Potteries 67637 in Biddulph bus station

We went to the toilet and once we had finished there we headed up wharf Street to the High Street We headed to the Kebab shop and we picked up a couple of portions of fries. We walked back to the bus stops and as we turned the corner we saw D&G Bus 157 on a #9 to Hanley.

D&G 157 in Biddulph bus station

We sat down and we ate the fries. Matthew washed them down with a can of orange tango. We just about finished and we saw First Potteries 67603 on a #7A to Hanley.

First Potteries 67603 in Biddulph bus station

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off onto High Street and we turned left at the roundabout onto St John's Road. 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 got up and got off the bus. We walked down to the bottom end of the bus station and we saw First Potteries 67665 on a #4 to Audley.

First Potteries 67665 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Bethesda Street. We went along Marsh Street and then down Etruria Road. We crossed under the A53 and we went into the Festival Park. We went up Festival Way and as we passed Waterworld. We turned right down Forge Lane before crossing under the A53. We joined the A53 and we crossed the A500 into Basford. We dropped down towards Newcastle and then we went around the one way system before turning left into Barracks Road. When we got back to the bus station Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67665 before it carried on towards Audley.

First Potteries 67665 in Newcastle bus station

We went down to the bottom of the bus station and we saw D&G Bus on layover. We walked back up to the top end of the bus station and we saw D&G Bus 149 on a #85 to Crewe.

D&G 149 in Newcastle bus station

Mum was waiting in the car on other side of Barracks Road in a car park off Hassell Street. Matthew got in the car and had some Wright's Pie mini sausage rolls which he washed down with a can of Irn Bru. We set off down Barracks Road and on the A34. We ran down to Trent Vale. At Hanford roundabout we turned left onto 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. There was nothing on the spare ground so we turned left onto Willow row to see what was in the compound. We saw Z Carz Volkswaggen minibus OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Also seen was Z Carz Mercedes minibus KE03 JXC in the corner of the new yard. We went West along the A50, the main crriageway was closed for overnight roadworks. We turned left onto Foley Road and we turned right at the end onto Longton Hall Road. We ran to the bottom of the hill and we turn left by the BP garage. We ran up Blurton Road and at the roundabout we continued up to Church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive and we got back home at 19:30. When we got back for a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by another small sausage roll. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.