Trip to the Roaches 17-06-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	John Street, Hanley	The Roaches	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	The Roaches	John Street, Hanley	Charter	Aiming High
40144	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	34	First Potteries
2203	Newcastle BS	Audley Council Offices	94A	Wardle Transport

Today was an Aiming High trip to the Roaches. We got up around 08:30 and had bacon on toast for breakfast before setting off towards Hanley at 09:30. Because of the construction of the new bus station we had to go into John Street from the other end. We arrived in Hanley just before 10:00. We had a short wait before the bus appeared. It was one of the usual two aiming High vehicles FJ10 BJX. Matthew got a picture of this bus before getting on with his backpack.

Aiminhg High FJ10 BJX in John Street

They set off towards Limekiln bank just after 10:00 and saw 40179 on a #2 service. They then onto the A53 via Abbey Hulton and then through to Baddeley Green. The also went past the Total petrol station and past a Shell petrol station too. The journey would have taken just over 30 minutes. On the way they He also saw 65041 on a #18 Leek service too. beyond leek they did the A53 up to Blackshaw moor and then turned into Tttesworth reservoir. Whilst there Matthew came across and photographed this Staffordshire County Council coach PN57 CVG.

Marcopolo coach PN57 CVG near the Roaches Street

Matthew had his packed lunch out and they would have left the Roaches around 14:20. After going to the toilet they Left Tittesworth and went back towards Blackshaw Moor. They got back onto the A53 and they went through Leek Badderley Green to Cobbridge. They then traveled along Waterloo Road to the Hanley ring road. They then Travelled up Lichfield street to John Street. We got to Hanley to pick him up. He saw First Potteries 40154 on a #23 service. Around 14:50 they had already got back to Hanley. Back at Hanley Matthew saw 40144 on a #34 service which he wanted to do so we did it to Newcastle. We set off toward festival park and around the industrial units and then onto the A53. The bus then went through Etruria and down into Newcastle. At Newcastle we saw Wardle Transport 2203 on the 94A to Audley so we arranged with mum to pick us up from Audley Council Offices. We travelled up the A34 and through Chesterton to Audley. After a visit to the local Co-operative food store where he picked up some pop and cake. We went back to the car and mum picked us up from Bignall End and we headed home via Chesterton and Newcastle past the First garage. we then went along the A519 stopping at the BP garage. We then went onto Whitmore Road before returning home Via Trentham. We passed Wardle transport 2532 on the #22. Whilst stopped we We go home around 15:30 and later Matthew had a burger for tea...Mark.

Trip to Hanley & Crewe 29-03-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1450	Ladybank Grove Blurton	Hollybush Estate Blurton	Charter	Wardle Transport
40155	Blurton Blurton Road	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
2320	Hanley BS	Hanley, adj Harding Road	41	Wardle Transport
2304	Hanley, adj Regent Centre	Hanley BS	41	Wardle Transport
66839	Hanley BS	Crewe BS	20	First Potteries
66839	Crewe BS	Tunstall High Street	20	First Potteries
40144	Tunstall High Street	Longport off Longport Road	99	First Potteries

Today to Hanley via Crewe Matthew got up around 07:00 and waited for the #20 his usual bus These things happen..! I have covered the #99 and I also covered the #61 hard job remembering buses from the morning before I type them up later we was Wardle Transport 1450 a Mercedes 413cdi minibus.

Wardle 1450 in Blurton

Matthew did his usual around 08:00 and we also saw Wardle Transport 1626 from as this usually does a pick up of a morning on right across the path of the Hollybush Estate Blurton. was 40373 on a #23. He did it to the Blurton Blurton Road where we got off. around 09:00 he the caught the following #23 which was 40155.On #40 we saw Copelands Tours MIB 797.Seen on #40 the new vehicle at Mr Finneys home He 09:15 also we saw 42726 on a #23 service at Stoke.saw Wardle 2963 seen on the plumline. at saw 2301 on a #41. we saw 3419 seen on a #164. On arrival at Hanley he went onto the balcony. was Bakerbus 181 seen on #350 to Newport. On the #19 we saw Wardle 2532 and also had Wardle 2320 on a #41 before having 2304 back to Hanley.he went onto the balcony.saw 30029 arrive on a #25. we saw Wardle 1423 in Hanley too.saw Wardle 2534 in Seen #58 Hanley. Around 10:00 was 66839 on a #20 around 11:00 which As which was nearly dinner time is unusual,so he decided to do this to Crewe Bus Station.the When he got off we saw Arriva North West & Wales 2503 on a #84 to Chester. the #20 was 66839 Afterwards he saw 60202 on a #20 to Crewe .we saw Stanways PUI 9321 on a return service #315 so he did this as far as.early taken out this afternoon 66839 out whilst in Tunstall he visited ASDA shop. He brought some coke from there around 15:00. When he came out, Within a few minutes 40144 turned up on a Newcastle bound #99 which he did to Longport. We met mum and then went back to the car. and ate sausage rolls. We stopped at the BP garage for LPG before via Wolstanton we saw 40142 on a Newcastle service.we saw 2203. we saw 40140 was which was near the hospital.on a #22 as was 40137 Around 16:15.returning home, We then had bangers and mash for tea...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

Trip to Newcastle 16-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40144	Wolstanton, opp Marsh Avenue	Newcastle BS	99	First Potteries
40016	Newastle BS	Hanley BS	24A	First Potteries
40016	Hanley BS	Newastle BS	24A	First Potteries
40142	Newastle BS	Whitehill Newchapel	99A	First Potteries
40142	Whitehill Newchapel	Wolstanton, opp Marsh Avenue	99A	First Potteries

Matthew was once again in respite and was taken by staff there. Whilst waiting for his bus he saw Bakerbus Volvo B6 217 on a Newcastle bound 94a service.


Bakerbus Volvo B6 217 on a 94A towards Newcastle (Matt)

shortly afterward 40144 turned up on the Newcastle bound First potteries service.


40144 on a Newcastle service (Matt)

When in Newcastle, they did a 24A service to Hanley with 40016. Whilst at Hanley bus station Matthew took this close up of 61553.


Close up of 61553 in Hanley Bus Station (Matt)

Matthew then did 40016 back to Newcastle. back at Newcastle 40142 appeared on the 99A. Matthew did this to whitehill and then waited for the bus back, which happened to be the same bus.


40142 in Whitehill (Matt)

Matthew then did this back to Wolstanton and then returned to his respite unit...Mark