Trip to Newcastle / Stafford 27-07-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
63174	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	11	First Potteries
65039	Newcastle BS	Stafford, Chell Road	101	First Potteries
65035	Stafford, The Sun PH	Newcastle BS	101	First Potteries
63174	Newcastle BS	Fenton, Smithpool Road	11	First Potteries
67155	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
67152	Hanley BS	Fenton, opp Albert Square	23	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in residential and he was going to his day service. He was also going to Stafford on the bus. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Whilst he was waiting to out we saw First Potteries 63097 on a #11 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63097 in Fenton

Also seen was D&G 112 on a #1 to Park Site.

D&G 112 in Fenton

Later on we went downstairs and we set off onto City Road. We continued to the stop outside the flats and we waited for a bus to Newcastle. A few minutes later the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 63174 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 63174 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. Once off the bus we waited for a bus towards Stafford. A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 65039 on a #101 to Stafford.

First Potteries 65039 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 London Borough of Enfield minibus DK58 HPY. 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. Once off the bus we walked Westwards along Chell Road and we turned left onto Broad Street. We continued onto Stafford Street and we turned right onto Gaolgate Street. We continued through the Market Square and forwards onto Greengate Street. We crossed over the roundabout onto Bridge Street and we saw Arriva Midlands 3755 on a #6 to Rickerscote.

Arriva Midlands 3755 in Stafford

We crossed over the bridge. We stopped at a pub and Matthew had a chickenburger and fries washed down with a glass of Coke. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards had a chocolate fudge cake and custard. when we had finished we walked down Bridge Street and forwards onto Newport Road. We waited for the next bus towards Newcastle. Whilst we waited we saw Arriva Midlands 3719 on a #74 to Cannock.

Arriva Midlands 3719 in Stafford

Also seen was Arriva Midlands 2516 on a #827 to Baswich.

Arriva Midlands 2516 in Stafford

A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 65035 on a #101 to Hanley.

First Potteries 65035 in Stafford

We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle before sitting down towards the back of the bus.We set off onto the A34 and we tirned left onto South Walls. We followed the one way system on to Cope Street and left onto Eastgate Street. We ran forwards onto Salter Street and we turned left onto North Walls. We headed Northwards and we ran into the bus station. 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 North 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 63174 on a #11 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63174 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Fenton before sitting down towards the back of the bus. Whilst we waited for departure we saw First Potteries 67634 on a #4 to Hanley. We set off out of the bus station and we ran onto Barracks Road. We turned right at Jubilee roundabout onto the A53 and we ran around the one-way system onto the A52. We ran up George Street and into Hartshill. We ran through the village and down the hill into Stoke town centre. After a brief stop in Church Street we continued into Fenton up the A52, over the A500 and under the railway line. We ran up City Road and near to the top we got up and got off the bus. We crossed the road and we walked onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs and Matthew chilled out in his room. Matthew chilled out in his room on his computer. Later on Matthew went out. We went downstairs and we cut through onto City Road. We waited for a bus towards Hanley at the stop outside of the flats. Whilst we waited we saw Leek Link PN08 AWY going towards Longton.

Leek Link PN08 AWY in Fenton

A few minutes later we saw a bus turned the corner. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67155 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67155 in Fenton

We got on the bus and we booked to Hanley before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off down City Road and we joined the A52 to go under the railway line and over the A500. We continued onto Church Street. and into the centre of Stoke. After a brief stop we continued around the one-way system onto Elenora Steet and right onto Copeland street. We turned left onto Glebe Street and we went under the railway line before turning left onto Station Road. We went past the railway station we turned right onto College Road. After running the hill through Shelton we continued onto Cleveland Road and forwards onto Regent Road. We turned left onto Lower Bethesda Street and we crossed over the ring road onto Bethesda Street. We turned right onto John Street. We entered the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked up Lichfield Street and onto Stafford Street stopped at Wilko's to buy sweets and a bottle of Coke. We walked along Stafford Street and we headed into the Intu Potteries shopping centre. We went to the 2nd floor and across towards the car park. We went down the stairs and out onto Bryan Street and we went to Cineworld. Matthew had a hot dog and drank his bottle of Coke. He went to the toilet and afterwards he saw The Lion King at the cinema. When he had finished we set off back down Bryan Street onto Stafford Street. We turned left onto Lichfield Street and back to the bus station. We waited for a bus back to Fenton. we saw First Potteries 67664 on a #7A to Biddulph. Whilst waiting for the bus Matthew drank a can of Coke. A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 67152 on a #23 to Newstead.

First Potteries 67152 in Fenton

We got on the bus and we booked to Fenton before we sat down. We set off onto John Street and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We crossed over the ring road and we ran down onto Regent Road and forwards onto Cleveland Road. We ran down though Shelton along College Road and we ran down to the railway station. We turned right onto Glebe Street and under the railway line an we ran around the one-way system in Stoke and stopped by Stoke Minster. We turned left onto Church Street and we crossed the A500 and we ran under the railway line. After climbing up the hill into Fenton we turned right into Christchurch Street where we got up and got off the bus. We walked back to the residential unit. We set off onto Christchurch Street and left onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. Matthew went up to his room to chill out on his computer. 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 Uttoxeter 29-05-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
736	Uttoxeter BS	Denstone, adj Hawthorn Close	Swift	Trent Barton
737	Denstone, opp Hawthorn Close	Uttoxeter BS	Swift	Trent Barton
3714	Uttoxeter BS	Sudbury, adj Vernon Arms	1	Arriva Midlands
3710	Sudbury, opp Vernon Arms	Uttoxeter BS	1	Arriva Midlands

Today was in the middle of the college half term holidays so we decided to out on a short trip to Uttoxeter. This was our first trip to Uttoxeter post X50 so we did not really know how things were going to go. I went to work in the morning dropping the main car off at the garage for repairs. Matthew got up around 11:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. I got back from work around 13:00 and after a quick stop we set off in the other car around 13:30. We joined the A5035 and headed towards Longton. We then turned onto the Eastbound A50 which we did up to the edge of Uttoxeter at the junction with the A522. As we traveled the last mile or so along the A522 we passed required Arriva Midlands 3710 on the #4 town service. We knew we would probably pick this up later on the #1. We passed the bus station where we saw a white Streetlite on the Midland Classic run #402 service. We parked up in the car park near the Co-op and we went to the cafe in the precinct for dinner. After using their toilet Matthew had a brunch with two rounds of bread and butter washed down with a glass of Coke. He also had my sausage! After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked into the bus station. The only bus there at that time was Trent Barton 736 on the Swift service. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this and he said yes. He took a picture of the bus and we climbed aboard...

Trent Barton 736 in Uttoxeter bus station

We asked the driver where the buses passed and he recommended we go to the Tavern Inn. I wasn't sure where that was so the driver told me he would give us a shout, the bus would tell us where we were anyway... We checked the page to see if the bus was a required one, but it wasn't. We had been on this bus on this service back in December 2013. There are three buses branded for this service and we had already been on two of them. Hopefully the return trip would be required Trent Barton 737... The bus was around 1/3 full but people were dotted all over, so Matthew took a picture of the empty seats behind us.

Inside Trent Barton 736

The bus set off along the A522 towards the Three Tuns before turning at the mini roundabout and appearing at the A50 by the Little Chef roundabout. It took a coupe of minutes to get across the roundabout due to heavy traffic on the A50. I checked nextbuses.mobi for the return bus time and we decided to get off a couple of stops early to be sure. As we traveled along the bus announced the next stop. This is a feature all buses should be fitted with and is very helpful for visually impaired passengers. We headed past the JCB factory and turn into Rocester village. after passing through the village we re-joined the main road before turning into Denstone. When we saw the stop in Denstone with the shelter opposite we decided to get off. We got off the bus and as the bus headed towards Ashbourne Matthew got another picture of this bus.

Trent Barton 736 in Denstone

We got off the bus and crossed the road and we had approximately five minutes to wait. The We saw the bus cross the road at the end before appearing from the street just up the road on the Left. As it got closer we saw it was required Trent Barton 737.

Trent Barton 737 in Denstone

The bus set off back through Denstone and into Rocester before heading back towards Uttoxeter. Crossing over the humped back bridge out of Rocester was very noticeable going back in this direction. We passed 32627 on the #32A to Hanley before we headed over to Tesco. We then headed into town from the railway station end and into the bus station. We waited for the bus to empty but because the end of the service is circular it didn't fully empty. Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of the bus.

Inside Trent Barton 737

We got off and Matthew got another picture of Trent Barton 737.

Trent Barton 737 in Uttoxeter bus station

The was an #1 due in a few minutes, so Matthew used the toilet whilst we waited. A few minutes later dud Arriva Midlands 3714 appeared on the service.

Arriva Midlands 3714 in Uttoxeter bus station

We had been on this bus twice before up to Portway Head back in December 2013. There were quite a few people waiting for the bus, but someone kindly let us onto the bus near the front of the queue. The driver recognised us from one of our previous trip. Matthew was able to get a goo picture inside the near empty Arriva Midlands 3714.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3714

We decided to do the bus up to Sudbury so that we could visit the shop there. We left town on the A518 up to the A50. We went East and climbed the hill to take the road to Doveridge. We went through the village and we made the sharp turn into Bell Lane with ease. We then headed back onto the road to Sudbury. passing Portway Head and Sudbury Hall. We got off by the shelter at the Derby end of the village and Matthew took a picture of Arriva Midlands 3714 as it headed of towards Burton.

Arriva Midlands 3714 in Sudbury

Once the bus had gone we walked back into the village and went into the shop. Matthew chose a can of Coke, A bounty and an ice pop. After eating the ice pop, Matthew ate and orange flavoured rice crispies square bar and we shared the Bounty. We crossed the road and went to the Uttoxeter bound stop. We still had 15 minutes to wait... The time passed and the bus still hadn't appeared. Around 10 minutes after the bus was due I called mum, because buses always turn up when you are on the phone! It didn't work on this occasion, but a couple of minutes later the bus appeared. As expected it was required Arriva Midlands 3710.

Arriva Midlands 3710 in Sudbury

We sat down on the bus and it carried on through Sudbury and into Doveridge. We passed through the village and onto the Westbound A50 for a fast run down the hill onto the A518 and into Uttoxeter town centre. When we got to the bus station we let the bus empty before getting a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3710.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3710

Matthew used the toilet and when he came out dud Arriva Midlands 3716 made an appearance on the #4 town service.

Arriva Midlands 3716 in Uttoxeter bus station

After Arriva Midlands 3710 & 3716 had the bus station on their respective services there was a bit of a quiet spell. We checked the timetables for the #402 & #842 and there next one was at least 30 minutes later. We tried to check for the next #32/32A service but there wasn't a timetable at the bus station the First Bus app / phone had difficulty finding our position. So we went back to the car to see mum. Mum had just received a call to say that the main car was ready so we got in the car to go and fetch it. We drove out of town and for some reason instead of getting on the A50 I missed the turn and carried on along the A522 towards Tean! Perhaps we were missing the X50... As we went towards Tean we saw required First Potteries 32635 on a Uttoxeter bound #32 service. We carried on through Tean and onto the A50 near Blythe Bridge. We came off the A50 and Longton and we headed down the A5035 to the garage to pick up the other car. Matthew stayed with me in the runabout and mum followed behind with the main car. We got home around 17:30. We stayed in for about an hour and then we went to get a MacDonald from Fenton. On the way we decided to go past Z Carz to see what was there today. The line up was similar to what it had been all week albeit with W221 CDN missing from the front. There were 2 coaches present. These were former Alton Towers coach M534 RSO which was in front of former Ausden Clark Van Hool bodied CNZ 3828.

Z Carz M534 RSO in Longton

At the back of the site was Matthew's former college bus LDV mini M420 UEH.

Z Carz M420 UEH in Longton

Beside this was airport transfers vehicle DL03 HHU.

Z Carz DL03 HHU in Longton

Back in the foreground was the first Mercedes minibus BV51 BNO.

Z Carz BV51 BNO in Longton

Next to this was Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

On the end of the row was their light green Iveco minibus HX51 HRU.

Z Carz HX51 HRU in Longton

We turned into Willow Row were we saw a Taxi Fleet minibus PN06 DNN. We turned back onto the A50 and then we did the A50 link road to Victoria Road and Macdonalds. Matthew had a chicken nugget meals and a plain cheeseburger. We drove home back up Victoria Road and the A50 to Heron Cross ad through Blurton. We got home after 19:00. Matthew ate his MacDonalds and then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Uttoxeter 23-04-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2940	Uttoxeter BS	The Wharf, nr The Fire Station	841	Arriva Midlands
3711	Uttoxeter BS	Sudbury, adj Vernon Arms	1	Arriva Midlands
3716	Sudbury, opp Vernon Arms	Uttoxeter BS	1	Arriva Midlands
3716	Uttoxeter BS	Sudbury, adj Portway Head	1	Arriva Midlands
3601	Sudbury, opp Portway Head	Fenton, adj Travers Court	X50	Wardle Transport

Today we decided to re-visit Uttoxeter. We hadn't been for a while and the X50 bus service is about to finish this weekend. Research consisted of downloading timetables #1 and X50 onto the phone and to check the weather, which was for cloudy weather with the possibility of rain showers. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had some toast and orange juice for breakfast. I got home from work around 12:45 and we set off out at 13:00. We drover onto the A5035 and we headed towards Longton. Here we joined the A50 and we headed East. We did this until we met the A522 which we did for the last mile or so into Uttoxeter. We parked up behind the bus station and we made our way to the cafe in the arcade behind the station. Here Matthew had a brunch wash down with a can of Coke. After we walked to the bus station and Matthew used the toilets. There was close to 30 minutes to wait for the next #1, but required Stafford based Arriva Midlands Versa 2940 made an appearance on the #841 service.

Arriva Midlands 2940 in Uttoxeter bus station

We decided to do this out to the Fox's biscuit factory. We got on and booked our tickets for this short journey. The bus had filled up a little so there wasn't a clear picture of the inside of the bus. Matthew took a picture of the seats just behind us on the opposite side.

Inside Arriva Midlands 2940

Within a short time the bus set of out of town along the A522. We only travelled around 1/2 a mile, just 2 stops up the road. We rang the bell and we got up and got off the bus. As the bus carried on towards Stafford, Matthew got another picture of this bus.

Arriva Midlands 2940 in Uttoxeter

We set off back along the A522 into town on foot. It didn't take us too long and we were back in the bus station in no time. Within a very short time of getting there we saw required Arriva Midlands 3711.

Arriva Midlands 3711 in Uttoxeter bus station

Also in the bus station was Wardle Transport 3601 on the X50 to Derby. All being well we should have this back to Fenton later on... we got on the bus and booked to Sudbury. There was only one other person on the bus before us so Matthew took a picture inside the bus beyond the last person.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3711

We sat down an dud Arriva Midlands 3709 pulled up behind us. It had just worked the #1 in from Burton and was about to go on the #4 town service. That was convenient time to swap! At 14:35 we set off out of town and onto the A50. We had a nice fast run up the hill before coming off at the Doveridge junction. We went through the village and then driver breezed around the the turn from Chapel Green into Bell Lane. We headed back onto Derby Road and we had a nice quick run up to the A515 roundabout before traveling the last mile or so into Sudbury along Main Road. As we came into the town we spotted a small shop that we could go and visit in a short while. We got off the bus and Matthew got another picture of Arriva Midlands 3711.

Arriva Midlands 3711 in Sudbury

We had around 20 minutes to kill until we caught the bus back into town. We walked down to the shop where Matthew Bought a Crunchie, a Calippo lolly and can of Coke. We walked back to the stop where we got off as it had started to rain, albeit very lightly. Matthew ate the lolly followed by the Crunchie and we put the can of Coke in the trip bag for later on. A few minutes before the bus was due we crossed over the road to catch the return service. It wasn't long before we saw an Arriva Commander approaching. It got closer and we saw it was required Arriva Midlands 3716.

Arriva Midlands 3716 in Sudbury

We got on the bus and booked to Uttoxeter. We sat down near the back to enjoy the journey back to town. We headed back along main Road, past the A515 and along Derby Road into Doveridge. The bus went back through the village albeit on a slightly different route before heading n the A50 for the decent into Uttoxeter. We came into town pulled into the bus station. We waited for the bus to empty but one person was asleep at the back of the bus, so I woke him up to tell him we had arrived in Uttoxeter. After he had thanked me and got up Matthew took a picture of he inside of Arriva Midlands 3716.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3716

The plan now was to have a quick toilet stop before catching the bus back to the end of Main Road to pick up Wardle Transport 3601 on the X50 service. After matthew had used the toilet there was just time to get a picture of Bakerbus 257 which was on layover, about to work the next #402 to Burton.

Bakerbus 257 in Uttoxeter bus station

We got back onto Arriva Midland 3716 and we sat in the middle of the bus. We left bang on time and we set off through town towards the A50. We had a good fast run up the hill to Doveridge and then we headed through the village once again. We needed to be on time because you only have about 5 minutes at the end of Main Road to cross onto the X50. The X50 goes direct along the A50 from this point onwards! We came out of Doveridge onto Derby Road and we caught up with a JCB just as we got to double white lines on the road! We sat at 20mph for around a minute until we came to a safe overtaking spot and the bus went past the JCB with ease. We got to the end of main road at 15:48 which was bang on time. We got off the bus and we crossed over the road to wait for the X50. A car went past and backfired massively which made us jump. Departure time of 15:54 came and went and I was beginning to get a little worried. Had the bus come early and already gone past? Around 5 minutes later just as I was about to call mum to pick us up, the bus rounded the corner an it was required Wardle Transport 3601 as expected.

Wardle Transport 3601 in Uttoxeter bus station

We got on the bus and the reason for the slight late running became apparent. The bus was full and standing! Not bad for a service about to finish due to poor patronage. We booked to Fenton, and then fought our way to the back where there were a couple of empty seats. We called mum to say we were on the bus and she went back to Fenton to pick up uncle Dave and to get chips for tea! The bus set off onto The A50 and then fast into Uttoxeter. We got to Uttoxeter bus station and a few people got off the bus. A few people got off but most of these were replaced by new faces. I asked the lady behind me if she minded if I opened a window and she didn't as the bus was roasting. Wardle Transport 3602 appeared on the Derby bound X50 and we saw Bakerbus 251 on layover between services. We set off out of Uttoxeter along the A522 and after we crossed the A50 the bus got moving and it soon cooled down. Along the faster parts of the run it was now feeling cold as the bus raced towards Tean. A few people got off and Matthew was able to get a picture of the seats beside us.

Inside Wardle Transport 3601

We traveled through Tean and Draycot and into Blythe Bridge. We then crossed back over the A50 heading into Meir Heath before dropping down into Meir along the A520. Here we passed Wardle Transport 2263 going to Cheadle on the X51. We carried on fast along the A50 coming off at Longton. we traveled through Longton down the Strand, a part of the route changes that I had forgotten about before going down King Street into Fenton. We passed another X51 with Wardle Transport 2217 in charge and then we got off at Travers Court.

Wardle Transport 3601 in Fenton

Mum and uncle Dave who were waiting for us near to the stop. Chips had been purchased and we headed home along Smithpool Road and Grove Road up to Heron Cross. We got home at a little after 17:00 and we had chips and sausage for tea. Matthew chilled at hoe for a while and then we went to uncle Dave's for biscuits and pop. We left uncle Dave's at around 22:00 and we headed onto the A500 which we did down to the A519. We went down Whitmore road to the A34 where we saw First Potteries 32632 on a #101 going towards Stafford. We then went along the A5035 to home. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bed time around 23:45...Mark