Trip to Newcastle / Stafford 14-07-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67635	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
65041	Newcastle BS	Stafford, Station Road Railway Station	101	First Potteries
65039	Stafford BS	Newcastle BS	101	First Potteries
63096	Newcastle BS	Fenton, Christchurch Street	11	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in residential and he was going to his day service. He was also going out on the bus to Stafford. It was also the day that Arriva NW&W ran the Eirias Park & Ride service in conjunction with the Paloma Faith concert. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Before Matthew went to the day centre he watched buses out of the window. Across the road we saw First Potteries 67602 on a #11 to Hanley. Also we saw Shelton Care Group DY08 FFX outside.

Shelton Care Group DY08 FFX in Fenton

Also seen was Afford Rent-A-Car HN16 CMV going towards Longton.

Afford Rent-A-Car HN16 CMV in Fenton

When it was time to go out we set off onto City Road and we saw Afford Rent-a-Car PO17 ZXD outside there yard.

Afford Rent-A-Car PO17 ZXD in Fenton

On Elsing Street we saw Afford Rent-a-Car MK67 UEM parked up by the garage.

Afford Rent-A-Car MK67 UEM in Fenton

We carried on down the road and we waited for a First Potteries bus to Newcastle. Whilst we waited we saw D&G Bus 122 on a #1 to Park Site.

D&G 122 in Fenton

A few minutes later the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 67635 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67635 in Fenton

We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off down City Road and we ran down the hill over the old railway line to Leek and onto the A52. We ran under the railway line and over the A500 and straight into Stoke town centre along Church Street. After a brief stop in Stoke we continued along church Street and forwards onto Hartshill Road. We ran up the hill and into Hartshill. We ran forwards onto George Street and we ran down the hill into Newcastle. We turned left at the roundabout onto Barracks Road and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. we saw First Potteries 63098 on a #25 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63098 in Newcastle bus station

A short while later the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 65041 on a #101 to Stafford.

First Potteries 65041 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Stafford before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Barracks Road. We ran Southwards onto the A34 and we ran down through Trent Vale and into Hanford. We continued down through to Trentham and then we got onto the fast section of the A34. We ran through Tittensor to Darlaston and we continued down to the North end of Stone. We Veered left onto Newcastle Road and we ran into Stone town centre. After going around the one-way system and onto Stafford Road. We crossed over the A34 onto Eccleshall Road. We turned left onto Tilling Drive and we ran onto the industrial estate. We saw former Western Greyhound minibus WK53 EUT. We rejoined the A34 at the roundabout where the A51 goes Eastwards and we ran Southwards through the fast section on the A34 to the A513 roundabout. We ran the last couple of miles into town down the A34 onto Foregate Street and we turned right onto Chell Road where we got up and got off the bus. In Stafford we saw Arriva Midlands 2373 on a #8 to Moss Pit.

Arriva Midlands 2373 in Stafford

We walked around the onto Broad Eye. We turned left onto Broad Street and we walked beyond the roundabout to Milkshakes an Oatcakes. for dinner Matthew had a cheese ans sausage oatcake with a glass of Coke followed by Ice cream. When Matthew had finished eating his dinner he turnd left onto Stafford Street and turned left onto Gaolgate Street. When we got to the end we turnd right into the bus station. In the bus station we saw Arriva Midlands 2372 on a #9 bus to Highfields.

Arriva Midlands 2372 in Stafford bus station

A few minutes later we saw Arriva Midlands 3783 on a #5 to Telford.

Arriva Midlands 3783 in Stafford bus station

After a few minutes we saw Arriva Midlands 3911 on a #825 to Lichfield.

Arriva Midlands 3911 in Stafford bus station

Also seen was Arriva Midlands Dennis Dart 2371 on an unidentified service painted in the new Arriva colour scheme.

Arriva Midlands 2371 in Stafford bus station

Also in the new colours was Arriva Midlands Optare Solo 2448 on a #1B to Baswich.

Arriva Midlands 2448 in Stafford bus station

After a short while the bus back to Hanley appeared. It was First Potteries 65039 on a #101 to Hanley

First Potteries 65039 in Stafford bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle bus station before we sat down. We left the bus station onto the A34 and we ran Northwards to the edge of town. We continued up the fast section of the A34 to the edge of Stone and then we turned left onto the industrial estate. We ran around the estate and onto Tiling Drive. We turned right onto Eccleshall Road and we crossed the A34 onto Stafford Road. We turned left onto Crown Street and we stopped at the main stop in Stone. We ran North up Newcastle Road and we re-joined the Northbound A34. We ran Morth through Meaford and Tittensor and up into Trentham. We continued North through Hanford and Trent Vale and we past the City General hospital before going into Newcastle. We turned right onto Barracks Road and we entered the bus station from the South end. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we waited for the next bus back Fenton. A few minutes later the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 63096 on a #11 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63096 in Newcastle bus station

We booked to Fenton and as the rear of the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 63096 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 63096

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 into Stoke town centre. After a brief stop we continued along Church Street out of Stoke and over the A500. We ran under the railway line and we continued onto City Road. At the top of the hill we got up and got off the bus. We crossed over City Road and we walked across to Temple Street and back to the residential unit. Matthew went up to his room to chill out. For tea Matthew had pasta and tuna followed by a a slice of toffee cheesecake. Matthew went out to Trentham in the car. We set off onto Temple Street and we turned right on to Christchurch Street. We turned right onto Station Bridge Road and followed the road around onto Heron Street. We went throught the lights and forwards onto Blurton Road. We crossed over the A50 and we continued into Blurton. We turned right onto Church Road and at the end we turned right onto the A5035. We ran over the railway bridge and we crossed into Trentham. At the A34 roundabout we went straight across into Trentham Gardens and we parked uop by Franky and Benny's. Matthew went in sand used the toilet. He had a glass of Coke. We set off over the A34 onto the A5035. We crossed over the railwy line into Blurton and we turned left onto Church Road. We ran forwards onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton over the A50 to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Grove Road and we ran forwards onto Wheildon Road. We turned right onto Smithpool Road and over the railway line. We stopped at the chip shop. We turned right onto the back alley behand Temple Street and at the end we turned left onto Watkin Street. We turned right onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. Matthew returned upstaits to his room. Later on Matthew chilled out in his room. Matthew used his computer and watched music videos on the television. 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

Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 30-04-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2448	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
2122	Chester BS	Queensferry, Station Road Q3	10	Arriva NW&W
2328	Queensferry, Station Road Q4	Chester BS	10A	Arriva NW&W
2360	Chester BS	Queensferry, Station Road Q3	10A	Arriva NW&W
2570	Queensferry, Station Road Q4	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W

Given a few place to go to today Matthew chose to do the Ellesmere Port / Chester trip. When doing some research for the Llandudno trip, I notice the Deeside network day ticket and noticed that it went into wales as far as Flint. So today when we booked our ticket it was decide that we were going to get the Day tickets at £3.70. we set of just after 12:00 on this fine sunny day, leaving Staffordshire we passed the Morecambe team coach again and after hearing the radio later we discovered that this time they were playing at Port Vale! We arrived in Ellesmere Port shortly after 13:00 and ate in the market food court. We had 3 sandwiches, a full breakfast for Matthew and 3 drinks for £11 pound from Tommy Tuckers! After dinner we went straight to the bus station to ensure we managed to get a picture of the double decker parked up on driver mess duties.


GHA double decker DD09 parked up in Ellesmere Port bus station (Matt)

We didn't have to wait for long for the #401 Chester, but a car was parked up at the end of the bus station so Matthew couldn't get a very good picture. We jumped on Cadet 2448 and booked our Deeside rover tickets and off we went. On the way down we saw a Robin Hood coach of Leek parked up next to the sports centre, not sure which team this was for and who they were playing. On arrival at Chester we got a better picture of 2448
.

2448 on arrival from Liverpool on service #401 (Matt)

As we took this picture NC bodied First Manchester double decker 30069 went past displaying 'Private' and we didn't manage to get a very good picture.


30069 in Chester bus station (Mark)

As we took pictures of 30069, we noticed Arriva NW&W bus 2122 on a number 10. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this and he said yes so we did. As Matthew was leaving England and his pas wasn't valid in Wales I asked the driver what ticket he needed. We were able to purchase aa concessionary day rover for £2.20. So off we went. I had intended to go to Shotton, but as this was new territory and we didn't know where we were going, we ended up getting off in Queensferry. because we passed an entrance to Shotton steel work we thought we were in Shotton! Matthew took a photo of 2122.


2122 departs from Station Road Queensferry (matt)

We crossed the road as there was a bus stop almost immediately opposite. The bus had an electronic display telling us that there was a 10A due 14:49. Sure enough after a few minutes wait 2328 appeared on this service.


2328 in Queensferry on the #10 to Caer / Chester (matt)

Another 20 or so minutes and we were back in Chester bus station. As we left the bus Matthew photographed the inside of this bus.


Inside 2328 (Matt)

At this point we decided to re-group and think about what to do next. We went to our usual spot to take pictures and photograph a few buses whilst we thought. First Manchester open top bus 39939 made an appearance.


Open tops are back again...The open top service has resumed again with 39939 out today (Matt)

Short after that 30077 appeared on a #53 Kingsway. Had we not had an Arrive day ticket we would have done this. There seemed to be a lot of bus photographers out today and this old beast was getting plenty of attention.


30077 is still going strong seen here on the #53. There was a few people here to see this bus as can be seen to the right of the photo (Matt)

After what seemd like quite a while 2328 departed on it's next #10 duty.


2328 departs Chester (matt)

We decided to have a quick toilet break and to do the next 10/10A to turn up. We didn't have to wait long before Chester allocated 2360 appeared to work a 10A


2360 in Chester bus station about to work the #10A (Matt)

As before we decide to do this to Queensferry as we knew we would have bus information. The next 10 was at 16:04 and we guessed that it might be 2570 which we had going in on 2328. Supprisingly we had guessed correctly and it was 2570!


2570 in Station Road, Queensferry (Matt)

So back to Chester, the only notable thing about this journey was a near riot when a wasp flew into the bus and a few kids started shrieking and waving shoes about, eventually killing the poor thing.


2570 in Chester bus station (Matt)

When we got back to Chester, we decided to call it a day. we took a couple more pictures and then went to the car park. After a customary sausage roll break we set off home, Put the radio on to Listen to the Blackpool - Stoke match and heard them nearly score a late winner with the eventual score 0-0 crewe had beaten Stockport 2-0 and vale had stuffed Morecambe 7-2! Morecambe have not had a good week in the North Staffs / South Cheshire area (Mark)