Trip to the Black Lion 21-04-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
42726	Heron Cross	Longton Hall Road	23	First Potteries
40137	Longton Hall Road	Trent Vale, adj Woodlands Rd	22	First Potteries
40176	Trent Vale, opp Black Lion	Hanford opp Man in Space	21	First Potteries
40137	Hanford opp Man in Space	Blurton Road, Blurtn	22	First Potteries
40169	Blurton Road, Blurton	Heron Cross	23	First Potteries

Today Matthew went to the Black Lion again. Matthew was in respite so we arranged for a PA to go with him. He got up at 07:00 and had breakfast whilst he wait for the time when his PA arrived. At 12:00 the PA arrived and they set off to the bus stop in Heron Cross. Whilst there we saw Wardle Transport 1454,1450,1455.1453. If fact we saw the whole fleet. Wardle put on a special bus parade for him. Even the one that weren't fit to work were towed past on the back of a truck. They Walked to Heron Cross to wait for the Blurton bus. Copeland's tours MIB 783 was seen working on the #40. When the bus turned up it was required 42726.

First Potteries 42726 in Heron Cross

The bus was done to Blurton where Matthew was able to get another picture of this bus.

42726 in Blurton

Matthew visited the BP garage. They then crossed the road to wait for the 13:05 from Longton to Newcastle. After a short while the #22 turned up and it was Ex Chester 40137.

First Potteries 40137 in Blurton

They did this bus to the other side of the Black Lion and got off to Walk back.40153 was also seen on the #22 service. He then got another picture of the bus. Trip between stuff.

40137 in Trent Vale

Whilst out Matthew had his usual dinner of Sausage Chips Egg and Beans with Toffee pudding for afters. After dinner they walked to the stop opposite the Black Lion. The bus turned up and it was required 40176. Matthew got a picture of this bus.

First Potteries 40176 in Trent Vale

Out and about Copeland Tours Coach MIB 246 was also seen. Matthew visited the Co-op. The bus was done to the Man in Space in Trentham where he got another picture of this beast.

40176 in Trentham

Whilst waiting for the #22 he saw 40150 heading towards Newcastle and also another 61244 was seen on a #21. He also saw 40751 did the following #21A.

First Potteries 40751 in Trentham

Ex First Manchester 34069 is a great bus. After a short wait the #22 appeared and it was 40137 again.

First Potteries 40137 in Trentham

When he got off he got another picture of this bus.

40137 in Blurton

The journey was swift. The final leg of the trip from Blurton 30038 is a beast and it was 40169. He got a picture of this before he go on it.

First Potteries 40169 in Blurton

They did the bus to Heron Cross before walking back to the respite unit for his tea. He had a bath later and then chilled out before bedtime..Mark

Trip to Smallthorne 24-09-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40159	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Hanley BS	23A	First Potteries
185	Hanley BS	Smallthorne, Hadfield Green (adj)	9	Bakerbus
60011	Smallthorne, Hadfield Green (adj)	Hanley BS	29	First Potteries
BK10 MGV	Hanley BS	Preston Street (Opp)	9	Bakerbus
186	Preston Street (adj)	Hanley BS	9	Bakerbus
60201	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	34	First Potteries
40137	Newcastle BS	Tunstall, Highgate (opp)	99	First Potteries
40147	Tunstall, Woodland Street stop C	Longport, Longport Road (adj)	99	First Potteries

Today we decided to do a local trip, with the main intention of trying to get a ride on the Bakerbus loaned double deckers before they return home. During the week these usual work the X1 service, but lately on Saturdays they have turned out on the #9 service. I purchased a 'Smart Day' from a local shop and then we walked all the way up to the Ladybank Grove stop to wait for a Hanley bus. After a very short wait 40159 rounded the corner. We have not been on this bus for a long time and such it had been recorded in his list.


40159 in Blurton on a 23A (Matt)

The bus was empty when we got on and so Matthew got his empty shot straight away!


Inside 40159 (Matt)

The journey to Hanley was quiet and uneventful and when we reached Hanley We went up onto the balcony to assess the situation. there was one of the bakerbus double deckers parked up but it was not being used at the time. I went to the travel office to get some timetables. The small office with all the timetables was closed, so I was only able to pick up some First Timetables. On the way back I checked the times of the #9's and #61's. There was a #9 due off at 13:40 and it was already on stand. The bus was Bakerbus 185 and it was required.


Bakerbus 185 in Hanley on a #9 service (Matt)

We decided to do this to Smallthorne in the hope of getting on the return service. As we got off Bakerbus 196 was on the opposite side of the road pulling off! Matthew got another picture of 185 as it was about to pull off.


185 in Smallthorne (Matt)

We crossed the road and I used the text service to find out the next bus. The next bus was going to be a First #29 in about 3 minutes. Almost as soon as I had texted, 60011 rounded the corner. This was not required, but as this bus has been out of service and was nearly withdrawn it was an interesting one.


60011 in Smallthorne (Matt)

The bus was sounding a little rough, and one of the window seals had blown, but we have have seen and heard much worse! As we turned into Hanley bus station we expected to see 196 on stand, but this had been replaced by the double decker! We quickly transferred from one to the other as they were only a couple of stands apart. We got on and this time booked to the top of smallthorne so we could catch a #9 back. We went upstairs and were the only people on the top deck. At this point Matthew got a picture of the empty bus.


Inside demonstrator BK10 MGV (Matt)

The journey was very smooth and quiet expect for Matthew making a noise. As we got off Matthew was able to get a picture of the bus.


BK10 MGV in Smallthorne (Matt)

We crossed the road eventually having fought our way through the busy traffic. After a very short while bakerbus 186 rounded the corner. Not a double decker but still required.



Bakerbus 186 in Smallthorne (Matt)

We did this back to Hanley and when we arrived Matthew took a picture of the empty interior.


Inside 186 (Matt)

At this point we decided to have a break from the buses and eat some chips. I went down to Tony's place and got 2 portions of chips which we promptly finished off. As we were eating step entranced Wardle Transport Dennis Dart 2038 arrived and I hought we were going to catch this but Matthew changed his mind.


Wardle Transport 2038 on a service #61 (Matt)

He directed us towards required 60072 on a #34A. By the time we got down to it it pulled away so Matthew decided he want to do unrequired 60201 on the following #34.


60201 on a #34 in Hanley bus station (Matt)

we did the bus to Newcastle and at this point he decided to misbehave a little. We decided to do required 40137. This Ex Chester bus is the last of the batch allocated locally that he needed.


40137 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

on the way out of town we passed Bakerbus 215 on a #94A service. We did the bus to Tunstall at which point he was able to get another picture of these beast.


40137 in Tunstall (Matt)

After that we had a few minutes in Tunstall High street. The following service on the same corridor was worked by ALX200 40142.


40142 in Tunstall (Matt)

With 40137 already head back towards Newcastle, the next bus back was likely to be another ALX Dart and indeed it was. required 40147 appeared.


40147 in Tunstall (Matt)

At this point we formulated a plan to get home. We called mum to meet us at the BP garage in Longport so we could be picked up and we could also pick up some LPG at the same time. When we alighted from the bus in Longport, Matthew got another picture.


40147 in Longport (Matt)

We saw another couple of buses whilst we waited. 40148 was heading away from Newcastle and 40151 was heading towards Newcastle. we also saw Wardle Transport 2410 on a Britannia stadium shuttle. When mum arrived we filled up with LPG and then headed home. We got caught slightly in football traffic and saw 40007 doing #22's. also seen was Bakerbus 163 on #350's. not a bad day out today, made better with 43437, a well fought draw with Manchester United afterwards...Mark

Trip to Tunstall 28-07-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
14	Church Steet, Stoke	Hanley BS	41	D & G
4998	Hanley BS	Smallthorne, Hadfield Green (adj)	61	Wardle Transport
2962	Smallthorne, Hadfield Green (adj)	Sneyd Green, Berwick Arms (opp)	61	Wardle Transport
4607	Sneyd Green, Berwick Arms (opp)	Tunstall, Asda Superstore (adj)	61	Wardle Transport
40149	Tunstall, Woodland Street stop C	Newcastle BS	99	First Potteries
66841	Newcastle BS	Clayton Village, Beechwood Close(opp)	72	First Potteries

It's the first day of the college holidays, and we promised Matthew a local trip out after we had finished our meeting social services. We planned on trying to get a couple of the Wardle Transport double deckers which now work the #61 Hanley - Tunstall service. As we had not had any dinner we gave Matthew a couple of choices where to eat dinner. matthew chose to eat his dinner in Stoke. this would be good because then we could catch a #41 to Hanley. With step entranced bus D&G 6 & 12 regularly working on this service we would have a reasonable chance of riding on one of these beasts! Dinner was a breakfast at the London Grill. We sat on one of the table they now place outside, and Matthew watched buses on the #21 and #21A such as 60079 and 40745. After dinner we walked onto church Street to catch a #41 First bus we saw was D&G 30 on a #41 but it was heading towards Newcastle not Hanley.


D&G 30 on a #41 to Clayton (Matt)

We only had to wait another 5 or so minute before D&G 14 turned up on the Hanley bound service.


D&G 14 on a #41 to Hanley (Matt)

We got on the bus and immediately notice the very strange moquette design on the Marshall bodied Dennis Dart. When we arrived in Hanley and the bus emptied, Matthew photographed the inside of this strange bus.


Unusual moquette in D&G 14 (Matt)

After arriving, we immediately went on the balcony to watch the buses coming in and out of the bus station. Arriva Midlands 2703 was on the #164 service. There were quite a few Ex Chester Scanias working on local services such as the #21 and then another #41 heading toward Clayton appeared, which was D&G 116.


D&G 116 on a #41 to Clayton (Matt)

At this point we only had 10 minutes to wait for the half hourly service to Tunstall. Wardle Transport double decker 4998 was parked up and we thought that this might be the bus that was going to work the 14;30 departure. about 14:25 the double decker drivered up and then went round the block to come onto stand. Matthew took a picture off the balcony as the bus pulled up.


Wardle Transport 4998 about to work the #61 Tunstall (Matt)

We left the balcony and went down into the bus station to catch the bus. We booked to Tunstall and went upstairs. We sat a couple of seats behind the stairs on the right hand side as the front seats were already taken. As we left Hanley I looked at the timetable to see where we were going to pass other buses on the #61 service. I worked out we should pass a bus just outside Hanley and as I looked this up we passed Northern Counties double decker 4607. Further consultation of the timetable revealed that we could go to Smallthorne, catch another 61 back to Sneyd Green and we be able to catch 4607 up to Tunstall on the following service. When we got to smallthorne we got off the bus and matthew took another picture of 4998 pretty much where he used to stand every afternoon after school back when we used to live around the corner!


Wardle Transport 4998 in Smallthorne (Matt)

We crossed the road and we had about 7-8 minute to wait for the return service. we were hoping for another double decker but instead we got required Optare Versa 2962.


Wardle Transport 2962 in Smallthorne on a #61 to Hanley (Matt)

We did the short trip to Berwick Road and then waited for 4607 to appear. As we hoped 4607 appeared from around the corner. we went straight upstairs and we were able to get the front seats this time. Matthew took a picture of the upper decker from his front seat vantage point.


Wardle Transport 4607 upper deck (Matt)

We did this Tunstall via Smallthorne, The Bradley retirement village, Chell heath and then into Tunstall via Furlong Road. We passed 4998 in Chell Heath and Matthew got a nice picture! When we got to Tunstall, Matthew photographed the lower deck as we left the bus at Tunstall.


Wardle Transport 4607 lower deck (Matt)

Outside he also got a nice picture of the outside too...


Wardle Transport 4607 in Tunstall (Matt)

When we got to Tunstall Matthew seen keen to catch a different bus back. I thought he would want to catch a #20 or #20A into Hanley. We turned down 65732 on a 20A as we thought it was a bit new. The next bus was a 99 to Newcastle. I should have realised that he would want to do this one as he is a big fan of First PMT's ALX200's. The bus appeared and it was required 40149.


First Potteries 40149 on a #99 to Newcastle (Matt)

Another quiet journey, and when we arrived in Newcastle Matthew photographed the empty inside of 40149.


Inside 40149 (Matt)

Now is where the fun starts! Newcastle is a very difficult place to take Matthew as it is very narrow, very crowded and there is lots of choice. Given the choice of about 4 different buses to catch he was pointing at one and running towards another. One bus that I thought he would want to catch is Ex chester Dart 40137 on a #22 to Longton. he went towards it but only wanted to photograph the inside through the front windows.


Inside Ex Chester 40137

Matthew eventually chose 66841 on a #72 Clayton, This was unusual as we had been on this bus earlier this week! I think the choice was made mainly on the people aboard the bus as when we did finally get on it he had to say hello to 3 different people. We sat down and as we were about to leave we saw a First PMT 30034 pulled into the bus station. It was displaying X39 so it was probably having a driver change before running empty to Alton Towers to pick up passengers. Matthew was keen to do this bus and I'm sure we will do so at some point in the near future. We booked this bus to the nearest point to our house and then I called mum to come and pick us up. As the bus emptied out Matthew photographed the empty bus behind us.


Rear seats of 66841 (Matt)

We had about 15 minutes on the bus and then we got off on Ferndown Drive South. Matthew photographed the bus as disappeared into the distance.


66841 powers away into the distance on Ferndown Drive South (Matt)

We sat on Northwood lane for a few minutes and then mum appeared. There was a slight delay as she was in Matalan when I called her up! Stanways F39 ENF is a beast of a bus. We did the short car journey home and then prepared for this evenings European football game and for bangers and mash for tea... Mark

Trip to Tittesworth 14-04-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40139	Wolstanton	Hanley BS	17	First Potteries
41070	Hanley BS	Leek BS	18	First Potteries
MIB 246	Leek BS	Tittesworth Reservoir	Charter	Copelands Tours
MIB 246	Tittesworth Reservoir	Leek BS	Charter	Copelands Tours
41070	Leek BS	Hanley BS	18	First Potteries
40148	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	34	First Potteries
40149	Newcastle BS	Wolstanton	99A	First Potteries

Today Matthew was taken out to Tittesworth reservoir. Not to sure about the details because he never tell me anything! He still wants me to write about these things though, which makes thing very difficult. Seen out and about were 40139 on a #17 Hanley - Newcastle via Wolstanton, and Ex Chesterbus Marshall bodied Dennis Dart on a #18 Hanley - Leek service. When he got to Tittesworth Matthew visited the cafe and took several photographs of the place. lots of other buses and coaches were seen. Copelands Tours MIB 246 was one of them.


Sheep near Tittesworth (Matt)

After spending a few hour here, Matthew returned to the respite unit. 40148 and 40149 were seen on Newcastle bus diagrams...Mark

Trip to the shops in Hanford 31-12-2009

Matthew hadn't been out much due to one thing or another, so we took him to the shops. Whilst mum purchased his favourite Wrights Pie sausage rolls, plus a few other essentials in the nearby Co-op, Matthew took a few bus pictures. As soon as mum appeared from the shop, Matthew sprinted to the car as by this time he was frozen! Enjoy the pictures...


60012 on a #21 to Hanley. (Matthew)


Ex Chester 40137 0n the #22 to Longton. (Matthew)


Another ex Chester bus, 61245 on the #21 Hanley. (Matthew)


61245 on the #21 Hanley. (Matthew)