Trip to Newcastle / Hanley 18-02-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
34311	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Newcastle BS	22	First Potteries
32627	Newcstle BS	Hanley BS	25	First Potteries

Today we hadn't planned on doing anything! We had just been out on a big day out the day before, so we thought we would spend most of the time writing the blog. Matthew was up around 09:30, so I decided to check out what was on the early #22A turn. its quite rare to get anything good work on this turn, but it has dropped a step entranced double decker of 2 previous occasions this year. To my surprise i saw First Potteries 34311 heading towards me. Matthew quickly got dressed and he had a couple of crumpets for breakfast. It was a fine day and unseasonably warm. We walked around to he stop on Beaconsfield Drive to wait for the bus to appear. First potteries 53208 appeared on a Hanley bound #23 just before we saw 34311 approaching. Matthew got a picture of this bus before we boarded it.

First Potteries 34311 in Blurton

We got on and sat down upstairs. it was completely empty on the top deck, but it was quite warm and the windows were steamed up. As we set off we saw the other #22A turn and we was First Potteries 60194. On New in Lane we passed 40383 on a #21A and then 40010 on a #22. This particular service does not go through the hospital and it goes straight along the A34. When we reached Newcastle Matthew photographed the empty top deck.

Inside First Potteries 34311

When we reached Newcastle we had to figure out what to do next. We saw required 60069 heading towards Hanley on a #34 and we were about to do this when required decker 32627 appeared on a #25 to Hanley. Matthew got a picture of it and we boarded this bus and went upstairs.

First Potteries 32627 in Newcastle bus station

The bus was nearly empty upstairs and we sat somewhere in the middle. As we were leaving I was looking at an approaching double decker on a #25 service. we then saw 34286 enter the bus station at the bottom on a #72 service.We headed into stoke and due to an unsafe building in Stoke we divert down Shelton Old Road and Copeland Street. The bus stopped in Glebe Street instead on Church Street. We carried on along the normal route and we were in Hanley in no time. Wardle Transport 4895 had passed us on college road on an inbound X50 service. As we approached the stand we saw First Potteries 30029 pull of the stand having worked in. We got to the bus station and Matthew photographed the now empty top deck of 32627.

Inside First Potteries 32627

I had to go to work, so we formulated a plan. mum was going to come pick us up so we had a few minutes to take pictures before she came. We saw a few interesting workings whilst we were there. Bakerbus step entranced Mercedes 183 was on a #9 service and Wardle Transport 4650 was on a #61 to Tunstall.

Wardle Transport 4650 in Hanley bus station

Mum arrived and we walked back to the car. she drive us around the ring road to Shelton and we headed back via Shelton New Road and picked up LPG in Etruria. In Etruria we saw Pats Coaches M534 RSO whizz by. We then got on the A53 and headed South on the A500. We then went on the A50 and Stanley Matthews Way getting home around 12:00. We had dinner of burger and chips and he had chocolate fudge cake. I went to Work. Mum took Matthew to Longton. we went along the A5035 to longton and then went past the bus station. we parked up and went to the bank, before retuning back home and past the Z Carz depot. On the Depot today was D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

Maercedes minibus T131 SGA was there too and as we drove past, the Cannon Hiline coach V690 EBC arrived.

Z Carz V690 EBC in Longton

we then head home via Longton Hall Road and Naishe Drive. Matthew chose a Manchester Tart from the cake shop. Back home later on we had tea of chicken, roast potatoes and roast parsnips with gravy for afters. He then chilled out on his computer before bedtime...Mark

Trip to Abbey Hulton / Bentilee 10-09-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1450	Ladybank Grove Blurton	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Charter	Wardle Transport
1485	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Dividy Road Bentilee	Charter	Wardle Transport
1485	Dividy Road Bentilee	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Charter	Wardle Transport
1450	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Ladybank Grove Blurton	Charter	Wardle Transport

Today was Matthew first Monday at college of the new term. He got up just after 07:00 and was picked up at 08:00 by his usual bus, Wardle Transport 1450.

Wardle 1450 in Blurton

On the way to college he passed Wardle Transport 1649. They travelled own to Fenton via Heron Cross and Heron Street. Then in Fenton he saw First Potteries 30029 and 30033 on Schools work. They travelled own to joiners square and along Leek Road to Limekiln Bank. They then headed up the A52 to bucknall before turning into Newhouse Road. He arrived at college around 09:00. Wardle Transport 1485 was waiting in the yard. Whilst there went out on a quick trip to Bentilee on Wardle Transport 1485. Hey travelled back along Newhouse Road to the A52. They went passed the Meadows as he went up Dividy Road and then stopped for breakfast. They then went back to college on Wardle Transport 1485. They went down Dividy road to the A52. Around 15:00 he was picked up again by Wardle Transport 1450. Also in the yard was Wardle Transport 1648 on another transport. He got on Wardle Transport 1450 to bring him home. He then settled down for the evening having pitta bread pizza's for tea...Mark

Trip to the Gladstone pottery / Westport Lake 11-08-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJY	Middleshurst, Packmoor	Gladstone Pottery Museum	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJY	Gladstone Pottery Museum	Middleshurst, Packmoor	Charter	Aiming High
N295 DWE	Middleshurst, Packmoor	Westport Lake	Charter	Bennetts
N295 DWE	Westport Lake	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Charter	Bennetts

Today Matthew was going on a short trip with Aiming high. We asked him if he wanted to go for a walk afterwards to which he said yes. So we planned to go to westport Lake afterwards. Matthew got up a little after 08:00. After breakfast we set off around 09:00 as we had to be at Middlehurst for 09:30. On the A500 we passed to Copelands Tours coaches doing pickups. First we saw MIB 986 and then we saw MIB 236. They had trips to Blackpool York and Llandudno so we probably saw the Llandudno and Blackpool coaches. On the way we also saw Z Carz V690 EBC and then we saw D104 XAN. They had trips to Blackpool and Southport. We arrived at Middlehurst just before 09:30 whilst they were still cleaning out the minibus ready for the trip. Matthew got a picture of the bus before saying goodbye and going inside for short while. Todays bus was FJ10 BJY.

Aiming High FJ10 BJY in Packmoor

Shortly afterwards they set off for the museum. Today they had a pottery class and made pottery masks. Here is the clay face before he started to put features on it.

Making a face at the Gladstone Pottery Museum

After they finished the face they headed back to Middlehurst. Next was Bennetts minibus N295 DWE done from Middlehurst to Westport Lake. They got back around 12:40. When we met back up with Matthew we decided to go find somewhere to go to eat. as we travelled down the tunstall by-pass towards the A500, mum spotted a sign for a snack van. After a short drive around we spotted the burger van in the car park of Wickes in Tunstall. The burger van overlooks the by-pass and from there you have a great view of the valley and all the woodlands surrounding the A500. We had some burgers and bacon baps between us before setting off for Westport Lake. On the way we decided to drive down Chemical Lane instead of going on the A500. We stopped for a short while on Peel Street because I wanted to see if the steps you can see on the A500 as you head North from Porthill can be accessed from here. I had a quick walk to the top of the hill and I discovered this to be the case. We also saw something which I hadn't seen in a very long time. 'The Thing' graffiti.

'The Thing' off Chemical Lane Lake

Back in the 1980's it used to be everywhere around Stoke-on-Trent and we even saw it in Rhyl once! Longport used to seem to be the centre of 'Thing' activity, but most of the concrete fences that use to be his canvas had disappeared. As we carried on along Chemical Lane we saw 2 class 66 locomotives parked up behind Longport Railway station. We then headed onto the A527. when we arrived at Westport Lake we parked up and headed off around the pool. we decided to go around the smaller pool and then we did a path from the far corner that eventually took us to the footbridge near Longport railway station. We walked back to the little lake and we stopped to feed the birds for a short while. It was mainly Mallards but a couple of swans came to feed.

Swans at Westport Lake

Matthew took another picture just to be sure...

More Swans at Westport Lake

We walked back to the main pool and then started to walk around in a clockwise direction. I wanted to walk in the woods towards the railway line and so when we saw a style we walked through. Mum stayed behind and had a rest. The path quickly turned very boggy and walked along the path for about 100yds which was at least an inch deep in mud all the way along. It's a good job mum didn't come this way in her sandals. We eventually got back onto the main path and headed to the North West corner of the site. As the path turned back towards the lake we spotted a clearing by the fence. We stopped for a while so we could look at the site of the old LPG terminal. In the 70's and 80's we used to see a train most evening heading up to this terminal. We then headed back onto the path on the lakeside. We called up mum and arranged to meet her up near where we left her. We met up and then decided to feed the birds again.

A collection of birds at Westport Lake

This time as well as the Mallards, there were coots, Black headed Gulls and Canad Geese. Matthew particularly liked the Canada Geese and spent most of his time feeding them. We walked back to the main building where Matthew used the facilities and also tried to clean his boots up a little. We got an ice cream and headed back to the transport. It was around 15:00 now and Matthew wanted to go on a bit of a tour before we headed home. We went through Tunstall town passing First buses 40147 and 40148 on the way. We then headed through the Mill Hill estate and towards Chell. We then went through Fegg Hayes and at the end of the road we turned right towards biddulph. As we climbed the hill we passed First 40142 in the new livery. We went through Biddulph, passing the Hollinshead coach depot and the big sainsbury's store, we then headed along the road ans passed Congleton railway station before heading through the town. Passing the bus station and Morrison's we saw a Beartown Bakerbus and of the new Arriva double deckers on a #38 Macclesfield - Crewe service. We then headed south down the A34. we saw First Potteries 34311 on a #20 Crewe service. We headed through Talke and onto Newcastle. As we passed the First Newcastle garage around 16:00, we passed 30029 on a Northbound #34A service. We then headed back onto the A500 through Basford. Back on the A500 we headed south to Sideway and then onto the A50. We decided to go past the Z Carz garage to see what was there. The only bus visible was DAF minicoach W344 WNS

Z Carz W344 WNS at their Longton depot

We went passed the willow road site of the depot too and that was empty of buses. We then headed back home passing First 40003 and 40171 on #23 Hanley services. We got home around 16:20 and we settled down for the evening. Tea tonight was the usual sausage and mash...Mark

Trip to Newcastle 24-05-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1450	Heron Cross	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Charter	Wardle Transport
40751	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Hanley BS	5	First Potteries
30029	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	34A	First Potteries
40143	Newcastle BS	Biddulph High Street	99	First Potteries
40143	Biddulph BS	Newcastle BS	99	First Potteries
2260	Newcastle BS	Bradwell Hospital	35	Wardle Transport
2301	Bradwell Hospital	Newcastle BS	35	Wardle Transport
40148	Newcastle BS	Blurton Ladybank Grove	22	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in respite, and was going to college at least at the start of the day. Matthew got up around 07:00 and would have been redy for his transport to college at 08:00. It was his usual bus Wardle Transport 1450.

Wardle transport 1450 in Heron Cross

He would have arrived at college around 09:00. Today after 09:00 he went out for a bit of a trip around the Newcastle area. The first bus he had was First Potteries 40751 on the #5 to Hanley. They travelled through Bucknall and up Limekiln Bank. They got to Hanley around 10:00. After around an hour in Hanley, they spotted First Potteries 30029 on a #34 service. This was done through Festival park and up through Basford along the A53. This was done to Newcastle bus station where he got off. For dinner Matthew went to Morrisons in Newcastle. Matthew had a breakfast and the a lemon meringue for afters. Whilst in Morrisons they visited the toilets. Around 13:00 they saw 40143 was seen on a #99 to Biddulph. They travelled out through Wolstatnton to Porthill. They they went down through Longport and up to Tunstall. From Tunstall they traveled along the A527 to Biddulph. Matthew wanted to do this so he did this all the way to Biddulph and back the opposite way they came. In Newcastle Matthew saw 2260 on a #35 service. They did this to Bradwell. The return #35 was 2301 which he did back to Newcastle. as it was getting late, Matthew did a #22 homeward, which was First Potteries 40148. This was done South along the A34 to the hospital. They then went along Hilton Road and reapeared on the A34. After passing under the A500 they went through Hanford and Trentham. They Joined the A5035 which they did to Blurton. After he got back home we went out to MacDonalds for tea...Mark.