Trip to Newcastle / Crewe 08-09-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
34286	Sandyford, adj Newfield	Newcastle BS	99A	First Potteries
40145	Newcastle BS	Tunstall, adj stop A	99	First Potteries
34158	Tunstall, adj stop M	Crewe BS	20	First Potteries
34288	Crewe BS	Hanley BS	20	First Potteries

Today we were going on a local trip. worked First Potteries #20 - Hanley service Double Decker. As Matthew had an activity in the morning we decided to drive to Westport lake and then to a tour of South Cheshire and North Staffordshire by car. Matthew got up just before 09:00 and we took him up to Heathfield for 10:00. We Drove onto the A5035 and then along Stanley Matthews way. We went onto the Westbound A50 and ten onto the Northbound A500. We then went along The A527 to Chell and then we drive down to heathfield. Whilst there he went to the toilet. We collected him at 12:30 and then drove up to Wickes in Tunstall. We drove up onto High lane and then to Chell Roundabout. We then drove along the A527 Tunstall by-pass up to Wickes. We stopped there so we could have burgers and bacon baps at the burger van with the best view in town.

Burger with a view...

After eating we was First Potteries Alexander RL 34286 to Newcastle. We got on went upstairs sat down bus set off. The bus went via Trubshaw Cross and Longport. The bus then went via Porthill and Wolstanton to Newcastle. we got off we bus station we also saw First Potteries 40140 on a #72 service. We had an ice cream before returning to the bus. It we was First Potteries 40145 with it's ALX200 body. we got on the sat down bus set off through Wolstanton to Porthill and then down through Longport to Trubshaw Cross. We then headed up the Road into Tunstall. We went past the site of the proposed Morrisons in Tunstall. We got off Northwards through Tunstall on First Potteries 34158 we got on a #20 service.to Crewe. We went upstairs and sat down bus.

First Potteries 40142 in Tunstall

As we set off passed through we saw First Potteries 40142. The bus went up the A50 to kidsgrove and then forward Alsager and to Haslington we saw First Potteries 31518 then went past the railway station and into the bus station. Empty in We got off Then carried we saw First Potteries 34288 #20 service to Hanley. we got on went Upstairs. we sat down bus set off back to Haslington and then trough to Alsager. we then went down to Kidsgrove we did 40142 down to Tunstall saw then he went down through Burslem and then Hanley. we was picked up from the bus station we saw First Potteries 60128 was on a #20. we went back to Crewe and we saw 40143 on a #17 service back to the Hanley From here he walked back toey. where he met up with mum. Next we had a sausage roll and Coke. We drove down to Limekiln Bank and then onto Dividy Road. We went passed the Meadows and then on to Adderley Green where we passed 40169 on a Hanley bound #2 service. We then went down Anchor Road, around Longton and then passed the Z Carz depot. we got a picture of D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN

Next to that was a one time School bus DS51 ZJU.

Z Carz DS51 ZJU

There was Mercedes minibus BV51 BNO which has just had the Z Carz decals re-applied.

Z Carz BV51 BNO

Finally at the end of the row was coach V690 EBC. It had a service 279 sticker in the front window.

Z Carz V690 EBC

We passed a camper van as we went back past the depot. We then headed down Longton Hall Road passing First Potteries 40148 going towards Newcastle. We also saw First potteries 40152 heading towards Longton. We got home at around 16:40. We had bangers and mash for tea and Matthew then settled down for the evening before bedtime...Mark

Trip to Biddulph 31-12-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40383	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Hanley BS	23A	First Potteries
248	Hanley BS	Biddulph, High Street	9	Bakerbus
40140	Biddulph BS‎	Longport, adj Longport Road	99	First Potteries

In order to try and make the best of the daylight at this time of year, we decided to stay local today. Matthew stopped in bed until gone midday as it was he college holidays. Research was no done today and I didn't even get chance to pre-book a Smartday ticket. We eventually set off just before 13:00 and walk the distance to the Ladybank Grove stop in Blurton. As we got there there was a Solo on the stop bound for Hanley. It was dud 40027 which we had previously done in June.

First Potteries 40027 in Blurton

After Matthew got a picture the bus pulled off so we had another 10 minutes to wait for the next one. Whilst there we saw 40017 on a Newcastle bound #22 and 40152 on a Longton bound #22. We also saw recently rebuilt 40170 head towards Newstead which we thought might be our bus to Hanley. Surprisingly, 40383 turned the corner which must have come from Longton on a #23A. It is a bus we had done before , but we wanted to get to Hanley as quickly as we could. On the way past Stoke we saw a long row of Wardle Transport buses on football duties. We also saw Arriva Midlands 3489 on the 164 to Shrewsbury. On arrival at Hanley Matthew got his empty bus picture.

Inside 40383

At this point I tried to persude Matthew to go after Arriva Midlands 3489 as it seemed unusual and is an old bus. Matthew didn't want to go anywhere until he had had time on the balcony and had eaten some chips from Tony's cafe. Uncle Dave stood with Matthew on the Balcony and I went to get the chips. Whilst I was getting the food Matthew got a picture of Wardle Transport 4547 on a Britannia Stadium bound football bus.

Wardle Transport 4547 on Football duties

Whilst eating the chips, AM 3489 pulled off and there didn't seem to be much interesting around. With Stoke being at home there wasn't much chance of a double decker on a #61 Tunstall service. We had passed step entranced bus Wardle Transport 2038 on a #41. but this wouldn't be back in Hanley for a while. There had already been one of the new Hybrid Bakerbus, 246 on a #9. So we decided to wait for the next one to see if it was another and therefore required. Surely enough, after a short wait Bakerbus 258 appeared, and we went down to catch the 14:40 to Biddulph.

Hybrid Bakerbus 248 on it's Saturday #9 turn

The driver went away for a short while a re-appeared 5 minutes before booked departure time. We went upstairs and found somewhere to sit. The bus engine started up and about a minute before departure shut down again. At departure time the bus pulled away in near silence and the engine did not restart until halfway down the bank inside the bus station. This was he first time we had been on a Hybrid bus and it was very strange! I must have been the first time for other passengers too as one woman was commenting about the bus engine cutting out. We asked Matthew were he wanted to go and he chose Biddulph. On the way we must have gone on to electric power at least a dozen times. As we approached Biddulph the bus was virtually empty. I decided to get off in the High Street and Matthew got a picture of the top deck as he left the bus.

Inside Bakerbus 248

Outside he got another picture...

248 in Biddulph high street

We asked the driver where we caught the bus back and he told us ~around the corner by Sainsbury's". It was the first time we had been Biddulph since Sainsbury's had been built and we were surprised to see a bus station capable of having 4 buses there at a time plus a modern comfortable bus shelter. Apart from Bakerbus 248 on stand was a Bakerbus Solo and First Potteries 40148. Also arriving was 60176 on a 7A service. We gave Matthew the choice of bus to do Back towards Stoke-on-Trent but he had different ideas! Matthew decided he wanted to visit the new Sainsbury's. We went inside and he chose to buy some Cornflake cakes and a bottle of Coke. We also visit the bus shelter and had a quick wander around the general area. Due in before 16:00 were a 7a to Hanley, a 9 to Hanley,a 99 to Newcastle and a 94 to Newcastle. I wanted to catch something out of town and then catch a 94 or 99 forward. But Matthew was holding out for the 94. He turned down 60012 on a 7A. However, when First Potteries 40140 Matthew wanted to do this. Matthew is a big fan of ALX200 bodied buses be they Darts or Volvo B6's.

First Potteries 40140 in Biddulph bus station

We got on the bus, unusually we got on first so Matthew got a picture of the empty bus.

Inside 40140

On the bus, it was starting to go dark. I estimated a journey time of 30 minutes to Longport, and I phoned up mum to meet us by the BP garage there. The bus was virtually empty and there weren't many people at all on the bus by the time we got off in Longport. Matthew got another picture of this beast as alighted in Longport.

40140 at the stop in Longport

Mum had beaten us there by a few minutes and so when we got off we were able to go straight to the car. Matthew continued to eat his Cornflake cakes and had a can of Coke. As we returned home we listened to Stoke vs. Wigan match. We heard Stoke come from behind to eventually take the lead. Wigan had a late equaliser from the penalty spot and the game ended a draw. We got home a fraction before 17:00...Mark

Trip to Newcastle 15-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40029	Wolstanton, opp Marsh Avenue	Hanley BS	17	First Potteries
66851	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	34A	First Potteries
66851	Newcastle BS	Tunstall High Street	20A	First Potteries
40149	Tunstall High Street	Wolstanton, opp Marsh Avenue	99	First Potteries

Matthew was in respite today, and they decided to take him out on the bus. When he first went out he got a couple of picture of buses passing on the Newcastle Tunstall services. 40140 was seen heading towards Newcastle.


40140 in Wolstanton going towards Newcastle (Matt)

Shortly afterwards 40147 was seen heading towards Tunstall.


Tunstall bound 40147 in Wolstanton (Matt)

After this quick flourish of activity, 40029 appeared on the #17 service to Hanley, In Hanley bus station Matthew got a good shot.


40029 in Hanley bus station on a #17 service (Matt)

He then did 66851 on a 34A. He did this past Kidsgrove and towards Tunstall on the 20A service. At Tunstall they alighted and waited for the service towards Newcastle. After a short wait 40149 turned up. He did this to Wolstatnton, getting a photograph of the inside of this bus on the way.


Inside 40149 (Matt)

After this trip out, Matthew returned to his respite unit...Mark