Trip to the Black Lion 15-02-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
MIB 797	Heron Cross	Longton Hall Road	40	Copelands Tours
66838	Longton Hall Road	Trent Vale, adj Woodlands Rd	22	First Potteries
40377	Trent Vale, opp Black Lion	Hanford opp Man in Space	21	First Potteries
40146	Hanford opp Man in Space	Blurton Road, Blurtn	22	First Potteries
40171	Blurton Road, Blurton	Heron Cross	23	First Potteries

Today was Matthew's first trip out on a bus whilst staying at his new respite place. I organised a PA to go to meet Matthew and a member of staff from the place, and created a 4 page document on what buses to catch and where to catch them. The first bus that I organised for Matthew to catch was a Copelands Tours Dennis Dart on the #40 service. This can be one of two Ex PMT step entrance buses with MIB 783 being the most common and MIB 797 putting in a few less appearances. He has been on both of these buses before but not for a year or two so I thought it would be nice for him to travel on one of these buses again whilst he still can. Whilst waiting he saw First PMT 40139. Today it was the turn of MIB 797 to work the service and Matthew got a picture of this before he boarded it.

Copeland Tours MIB 797 in Heron Cross

The next bus I planned for him to get was the #22A turn which unusually brings a long bus onto the run or even sometimes a double decker like 31519. The bus misses out going through the hospital so it can be any length of vehicle. Due to the work being carried out on the hospital sight nothing longer than regular dart can work a #22. More often a Scania, Whilst waiting for the bus Matthew saw Dennis Dart 40144 going towards Longton. today it was a Volvo. It was dud 66838 and Matthew got a picture of it before he boarded.

First PMT 66838 in Longton Hall Road

Matthew got off in Trent Vale and then went to The Black Lion for his dinner. He had his usual from the 2 courses for £6.50 menu which was washed down with a glass of Coke. On the return I had planned for Matthew to stagger his journey and to get in some different buses. I had planned for Matthew to get a AG Scania or Dart to Trentham, for a NE 40153 Dart or 40017 Solo to Blurton, for a AG Dart into Heron cross. After his dinner he walked across the road to wait for the #21 or #21A, whichever came first. It was a #21 which I had planned but it didn't produce a Scania which I had hoped for. Matthew has had the majority of AG's alloaction of Darts but very few of their Scana's. It was however a required bus, Dennis Dart 40377. Matthew got a picture before he boarded.

First PMT 40377 in London Road

After this short journey he got a picture as he got off, With the blind now set ready for the last bit of the loop and it's return journey North.

40377 opposite the Man in Space

At this point he had around a 20 minute wait. He saw UVG Dart 40745 heading North presumably on a #21A.

First PMT 40745 on a Hanley bound #21

He also saw the following #21 which I had not out down for him to catch as the timing was too close with only two minutes before the #22 was due. It was required Scania 60062.

First PMT 60062 on the follow #21 Trentham

A couple of minutes Later the #22 turn up, It was an ALX200 Dart which Matthew quite likes and it was also required. Matthew got a picture of 40146 before he boarded.

First PMT 40146 on the #22 Longton

Matthew now only needs 1 bus to complete the whole allocation of, As he got off in Longton Hall Road, he got another picture of this bus. He also saw Dennis Dart 40143 Heading towards Newcastle on a #22 First PMT ALX200 Dennis Dart.

40146 on Longton Hall Road

Having got of the Longton bus, they crossed over Blurton road to wait for the bus back to Heron Cross. It turned up a few minutes later and it was dud Marshall Dart 40171, which he a picture of before he boarded.

First PMT 40171 on Blurton Road

Back a t Heron Cross he walkedback to the new respite place. As he got back he saw Wardle Transport minibus 1626 and he got a picture of this bus too.

Wardle Transport 1626 in Heron Cross

He also saw Wardle Transport 2531. The respite place report that Matthew was superb whilst he was out and that he really enjoyed himself...Mark

Trip to the POPS rally 08-05-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
G759 XRE	Wedgwood	Hanley bus station	66	Ex First PMT
CTT 23C	Hanley bus station	Wedgwood	66	Ex Devon General
RGV 690W	Wedgwood	Stone, Crown Street	10	Prince of the Road
GFM 104X	Stone, Crown Street	Wedgwood	10	Ex First PMT

Today was the annual Wedgwood POPS rally, and we had been planning to come here for quite a while. Setting off around 10:20 we arrived on site to see Ex First PMT 860 depart on a Hanley bound service. First thing we do after getting a programme is to go shopping! Matthew brought £48 worth of DVD from Mrs Spencer and then brought some packs of photo's (10 for £5). He also brought the new First Fleet book and then checked to see if his favourite buses were still running or had been withdrawn. he brought another couple of books and then we had a wander round the non PMT bus exhibits. He had a quick sit on Bassetts SUX 476X and then we went to the PMT exhibits. As we were about to sit down and work out which buses we were going to catch, we saw ex First PMT Olympian 30035 move off. A quick consult of the program and it was seen to be doing the 11:30 to Hanley



Ex First PMT 30035 (759) sets off towards the bus stop to form the 11:30 to Hanley (Matt)

So we all went around to the bus stop where 30035 was waiting. We went on the top deck near to the stairs. on the way up, Matthew tried to help himself to the antique 320 hanley - Crewe timetable until I told him not to do it. As we travelled down to Hanley via Blurton Road, the A50 link and Victoria Road, we passed ex first PMT 30039 coming the other way. We checked the programme to see if we could get 860 in later. It turns out that it did it's one and only turn early on and we missed it! The next bus due towards Hanley was down to be worked by "B35/B36". It was at this point that I wished i pad attention to the number in the bus windows! We made a snap decision to wait for the next bus and to let 30035 go back to Wedgwood without us. We has some food in Tony's cafe and then Matthew took some pictures in the bus station, at the bus station was 31519 between relief duties for Alton Towers.


31519 in Hanley bus station (Matt)

After a few minutes, a maroon colour single decker appeared. It turned out to be Ex devon General 23.


Ex Devon General 23 arrives in Hanley bus station on the 12:00 from Wedgwood (Matt)

Not sure if there was more than one bus scheduled for this run, I asked the driver if this was the only 12:30 to Wedgwood to which he replied "yes". So we did this bus, which was quite full. Matthew sat down with a total stranger and we had to persuade him to sit with mum by offering him a window seat. So we did this back to Wedgwood. I don't think was on Matthew's wish list but he enjoyed it anyway. This bus took the route via snow hill and then past the railway station. There was a Wardles ALX400 outside the station on football duties. The bus then went back via Leek Road, City Road, A50 and then A5035. At this point we had another look around whilst mum went shopping on her own for "future" events :-). We decide that we were going to do the 13:30 departs to stone for 801 back. The 13:30 was book for a Prince of the Road coach and two PMT Bristols. Matthew wanted to do the coach and uncle Dave wanted to do one of the Bristols. I persuaded Uncle Dave to do the coach as the Bristols are regular performers at the Rally. We went to see the buses turn in so we could get a photograph before we went around to the bus stop.


Prince of the Road RGV 690W sets off towards the bus stop to form the 13:30 to Stone (Matt)

The coach was the first to set of and the Bristol followed straight behind. At the junction of the A5035 / A34 all three buses were together. The bus took the usual route to Stone, by passing the town and in through the south end of town.


Prince of the Road RGV 690W on arrival at Stone (Matt)

At Stone there was a few minutes wait for the the rear Bristol to arrive as it must have been held up at some lights.


Prince of the Road RGV 690W and Ex PMT 198 forming the 14:00 to Wedgwood (Matt)

We let these buses go in order to wait for the 14:30 to Wedgwood which was booked to be Ex First PMT Optare Delta. It's a bus that we have been on twice before but Matthew is a big fan. Whilst waiting we saw the road go quiet. It was closed off for a few minutes in allow a band to march past the end. then First PMT 65039 turned up on the service bus to Hanley.After a few more minutes the red and yellow Delta appeared.


Ex First PMT 801 on arrival on the 14:00 from Wedgwood (Matt)

As we took the picture we heard someone say "an Olympian was following us down". Sure enough Ex first PMT 30039 turned up on an addition 14;00 from Wedgwood. We asked Matthew if he want the Delta or the new Olympian and he choose the Olympian.


Ex First PMT 30039 forms an additional 14:30 to Wedgwood (Matt)

We got and were able to get top deck front seats. The bus went back via the A520 to Rough Close and then via Lightwood and then joining the A5035 in Dresden. Whilst I took a picture of Matthew in the domed mirror, tree hit the front window and gave me a right scare! We we arrived back Matthew allowed the bus to empty and took a picture of the top deck.


Inside Ex First PMT 30039 (Matt)

He also took another picture of the bus outside for good measure...


Ex First PMT 30039 on arrival at Wedgwood (Matt)

After this we had a quick look around. 801 had already got back and was parked up back in it original spot. we returned to the car and then we decided to go home at a few minutes after 15:00. On the way back we put the match on the radio to find that Stoke were winning 2-0! Final score for the match was stoke 3 arsenal 1. bring on Man City next Saturday... (Mark)