Trip to Trent Vale 03-01-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
42894	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today we decided to catch a bus and travel up to meet mum. Matthew got up around 11:30, just after I got back home from work. He had some toast for breakfast washed down with blackcurrant juice, and later he had some sauaseg and tomato paste sandwiches for a late dinner. We had planned to catch the 15:50 from Longton to Newcastle #22 bus as far as Trent Vale where we were going to meet up with mum. We set off just before 16:00 and walked all the way to the stop on Magdalen Road. Whilst we waited for our bus we saw one of the other three buses on the #22, Longton bound First Potteries 66851.

First Potteries 66851 in Blurton

This was followed shortly by Wardle Transport 2962 on the Plumline service. Today is the last day of Wardle Transport working the Plumline. From tomorrow it will be operated by D&G of Crewe. A few minutes later our bus appeared from around the corner and it was dud First Potteries 42894.

First Potteries 42894 in Blurton

The bus was fairly quiet today. We got on and the rear of the bus was empty some Matthew took a picture of the empty rear seats.

Inside First Potteries 42894

We sat down near the back. The bus turned onto the A5035 and headed towards Trentham and past the Toby Inn. We turned into New Inn Lane and we paused for a short while outside the Man in Space. we passed First Potteries 41494 on the #21A to Hanley and then we headed into Hanford. We passed First Potteries 60061 on a Trentham bound #21 and then we passed 60128 on another one of the #22 truns. We headed along Wilson Road and then down the hill to the A34 down church Lane. At the A34 we saw welafre bus OU11 YCX. We carried on towards Newcastle and crossed the A500 and headed through Trent Vale. We turned the corner off the A34 and onto Harpfields Road. At this point we decided to get up and get off. We got off the bus and Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 42894 going off into the distance.

First Potteries 42894 in Trent Vale

We then walked back onto the A34 and towards the pub. As we walked to the pub we saw JayJay's Travel RX57 POV go past us. We got to the pub around a minute before mum arrived in the car park. Matthew had his usual meal of two sausage, chips egg and beans with extras of bacon and two rounds of bread and butter. The was followed by toffee sponge pudding and ice cream. After we had finished we headed off to pick up Uncke Dave. We got back on the A34 and headed South. At the roundabout of the A500 we saw First Potteries 41070 Heading towards hanley on the #21A. We headed North on the A500 and then East on the A50 which we did to Heron Cross. We headed into Fenton and picked up uncle Dave. We headed back to Heron Cross and we passed First Potteries 40173 on the #23A to Hanley. We headed back along Blurton Road and onto the A5035. We got home around 17:30. Matthew then chilled out on his computer and watched buses DVDs before going to be around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Trent Vale 30-08-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40011	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today we decided to catch a bus up to the pub to meet mum. Earlier in the day First Potteries 34286 had worked the 08:20 from Newcastle to Longton which I saw on the way to work. Matthew got up around 09:00. I got home from work and and we chilled out at home for a while. He had a late breakfast of toast and some orange juice. I viewed the remaining #22 turns. I was hoping that First Potteries 34286 was going to work the 1318 from Newcastle to Longton. The bus was dud First Potteries 40020. The other 3 turns were dud First Potteries 40180 and required First Potteries 40011 & 40017. We decided to have dinners first. Matthew had some sandwiches and a banana, but he only ate the banana. In order to get First Potteries 40011 in, we set off to the bus stop just before 16:00. We arranged to meet mum at the pub round 16:20. Whilst we waited for our bus, we saw dud first Potteries 40180 going towards Longton.

First Potteries 40180 in Blurton

A few minutes later required First Potteries 40011 rounded the corner and he got a picture of it as it approached.

First Potteries 40011 in Blurton

We got on and sat down near the back. The bus was not empty, but people were spaced out all around the bus. Matthew took a picture of the handle on the back of one of the seats on this Solo out of first Potteries' oldest batch of these buses.

Inside First Potteries 40011

The bus set off and turned onto the A5035. We headed into Trentham and then turned right into New Inn Lane. By the man in Space we passed First Potteries 60072 on a #21 service. We carried on into Hanford and then onto the A34. We passed First Potteries Dart 40373 on a Trentham bound #21A service. The bus crossed under the A500 and passed The Black Lion. The bus turned Harpfields Road and we got up and got off the bus.

First Potteries 40011 in Trent Vale

We set off walking towards the black lion. We got on the A34 and then we saw required First Potteries on the other #22 turn.

First Potteries 40017 in Trent Vale

We could have actually caught this bus if only for one stop! We got to the pub before um due to heavy traffic on the A34. A couple of minutes later mum made an appearance and we all went into the pub. Matthew had his sausage egg chips and beans with bacon and bread and butter. For afters he had toffee sponge pudding and ice cream. Whilst we ate we saw Arriva Midlands 3417 heading North. Not sure where that was going to... After we had finished eating we went to pick up uncle Dave. We went via the A34, A500, A50 and Heron Cross. After we had picked up we returned home via Heron Cross and Blurton seeing Z Carz SL52 BTY. We got home and then chilled out. Matthew watched bus DVD's from 1980, and used his computer until bedtime around 00:30...Mark

Trip to Hanley Park / Newcastle Fire Station 21-08-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	Shelton, opp Cemetery Road	Hanley Park	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Hanley Park	Shelton, adj Cemetery Road	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Shelton, opp Cemetery Road	Newcastle Fire Station	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Newcastle Fire Station	Shelton, adj Cemetery Road	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew was out with aiming high on a trip to Newcastle fire station. He got up around 08:30 and had some breakfast before setting off to Shelton around 09:30 The route was through Blurton passing First Potteries 40017 on the early #22A turn. We then continued through Heron Cross and up Victoria Road up to the edge of Hanley. As we approached Hanley we passed 60136 on a #6 service. We went around the town and down through Snow Hill to Shelton. We dropped Matthew off at the place and whilst it was quiet he got a picture of the transport for today Aiming High's FJ10 BJX.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Shelton

I walked him into the building and had a quick chat with one of the members of staff. They were going to Hanley park First for a short while before going on their fire station trip. After I left him they set off to the park which was less than a mile away. Matthew got another picture of the minibus here.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Hanley Park

He visited the playground and also went to the toilet whilst they walked around the park. They then headed back to Shelton for a while, presumably having their packed lunches here before heading off to Newcastle fire station. As they went through Newcastle, we spotted reliveried 40018 around town. At the fire station they had a good wander round. They went upstairs into the offices. He had his picture taken with a Firemans helmet on! They then walked around the depot. Here is a close up of the rear of one of the fire engines.

Fire engine DX61 GXG in Newcastle Fire Station

He also got to sit in the cab of on of the engines.

Inside a fire engine

After the visited the headed back to Shelton. We picked him up and Matthew took a close up of a cab that was waiting to pick up one of the other Aiming High users.

Close up of an Intercity cab

We then headed home via Z carz! The route took us down Stoke Road and passed a Shell Petrol station which is being refurbished. We then went onto the A500 and then onto the A50. before doubling back to go by the depot. There wasn't very much on today, with the exception of the 2 bigger coaches. Here's V690 EBC.

Z Carz V690 EBC in Longton

Besides D104 XAN, the only others visible were LDV minibus YN03 HJC and Mercedes minibus T131 SGA.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

We then headed homeward. Later on we went out for a MacDonalds on Victoria Road. As well as eating is own he pinched some of his mums too! He then settled down for the evening before going to bed...Mark

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