Trip to Leek 21-02-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
WA62 HHZ	Chell Heath	Leek	Charter	ABC Supreme
WA62 HHZ	Leek	Chell Heath	Charter	ABC Supreme

Today Matthew had an activity day in his new watermills school. He got up around 08:45 where we drove him down the stairs into the living room so he could get dressed and have breakfast. Breakfast was toast. I made him a packet lunch and cut all the crusts off his bread because he wont it otherwise. We set off around 09:30 passed the Hem Heath pub. As we waited at the junction we saw Warringtons of Ilam MX56 FXG. We carried on along Stanley Matthews Way. We then went on the A50, A500 and A527 Tunstall by-pass. At Turnhurst we went onto High Lane and then headed down Spring bank Road to his destination. We said goodbye to him as we went off to do the weekly shop. we saw it was ABC Supreme Renault minibus WA62 HHZ.

ABC Supreme WA62 HHZ in Chell Heath

we got on to Leek. We sat down near the back we set off down Chell Heath Road to Smallthorne where we turned left. we Headed through Norton and Brown Edge until we eventually reached the A53 at Endon. we then carried on to Leek town centre. we got off had his packed lunch (he ate it for a change) and then we returned back down to Endon on the A53 where we turned right towards Brown Edge. we went through Norton an turned right on Chell Heath Road. Mum picked him up former school. we went to the Premier shop in Chell and brought some pop and a toffee cheesecake and a kinder egg. After getting the food we headed towards Fegg Hayes. We saw 40152 on a #99 service. we carried on up to Turnhurst and then got onto High Lane. we drove to Hanley and then drove around hanley to Stoke Road. The drove down Stoke Road onto the A500. we did this to the A50 and then we came of at Heron Cross. we stopped in Blurton to see a friend then drove home. I arrived home and we had tea of fish fingers, chips and bean. Matthew had a whole family sized toffee cheesecake for afters. He then chilled out before bedtime...Mark

Trip to Stoke / Hartshill 09-02-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1450	Blurton	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Wardle Transport
GN53 EZT	Abbey Hulton	Newcastle	Charter	Blackfriars
GN53 EZT	Newcastle	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Blackfriars
1450	Abbey Hulton	Blurton	Charter	Wardle Transport
40138	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Newstead	23	First Potteries
40138	Newstead	Stoke railway station	23	First Potteries
66841	Stoke railway station	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj St Dominic's School	25	First Potteries
60176	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj Richmond Street	Church Street, Stoke	26	First Potteries
66851	Church Street, Stoke	Stoke railway station	25	First Potteries
2279	Stoke railway station	Stanley Matthews Way	500	Wardle Transport

Todays was another PA traing day. Matthew started the day around 07:45 with his usual transport in the form of Wardle Transport 1450.

Wardle 1450 in to Abbey Hulton

He arrived at college around 08:50. later, he went out on GN53 EZT, one of the minibuses from college on a trip up to Newcastle and back around 12:00. He returned home on Wardle Transport 1450 and arrived home around 16:00. As arranged the PA turned up at 20:00. The weather was forecast for rain turning to snow some time in the evening. The plan was to emulate the move we did on Monday which worked our really well. After the long walk up to the bus stop ,dud First Potteries 40138 was on the #23 tyrn which we did out towards Newstead. The bus emptied out and Matthew got a picture of the inside of this ex Chester beast.

Inside First Potteries 40138

I got up and booked tickets back towards Stoke railway station. The bus made good time, and we passed 40154 heading towards Blurton on the #23A just outside Stoke. In Stoke, unusually we passed a Hanley bound #25. We got off the bus outside the railway station and Matthew got a picture of 40138.

40138 outside Stoke railway station

Right behind us at this point was that Hanley bound #25 which was 66841. i had thought it was an early bus at this point. Matthew want to use the toilet so we went into Stoke station to use the facilities. We arrived back at the Stoke bound stop at 20:49, which was after the Keele bound #25 should have been. The thinking that 66841 was running early was dismissed when another #25 turned up with ALX200 Dennis Dart 40152.

40152 on a Hanley bound #25

At this point we realised that the move might still be on as 66841 was the late running #25 and we hadn't missed it. Shortly after 40152 headed up to Hanley, 66841 returned on the Keele bus.

66841 outside Stoke railway station

It had gone 21:00 now, and the #26 should have already set off from Newcastle. I thought that if we went through Stoke and we hadn't passed the #26, we could get off in Harsthill and hopefully still catch it. We did make it through Hartshill without passing the bus so we got off and Matthew took a picture of the Volvo.

66841 in Harthsill

We crossed the road and waited for the #26. It was about 21:10 now and it was obvious the bus we were waiting for was a couple of minutes late. It eventually turned up and it was required Scania 60176. As we got off Mathew took a picture of this bus.

60176 in Stoke town centre

We crossed the road and waited at the stop for the #23. As we checked the time it looked certain that we had missed this bus. This would mean that we would get to ride on ALX200 Dennis Darts 40152 and 154. Both buses aren't required but Matthew quit likes these vehicles. We crossed the road to the Hanley bound stop for the #25. 40152 pulled up opposite on the Keele bus, and a minute or so later, dud 66851 appeared on the Hanley bound #25. We did this to stoke station where we got off and Matthew got a picture.

66851 outside Stoke railway station

We now had a wait of around ten minuted in which we would see 40154 on the #23 also appear before the #500 service. Sure enough it did turn up and Matthew got a picture.

40154 outside Stoke railway station

We did give Matthew the chance to do this but he turned it down in favour of seeing what turned up on the #500. This turn out to be the right thing to do as the bus that appeared on the #500 was required Wardle Transport Dennis Dart 2279, Which was formerly D&G 11. This is the first time we have had one of these ex D&G buses on the #500. When we left the railway station it was damp and cold, but by the time we got on to Stanley Matthew way the temperature had plummeted and there was a heavy frost starting to form. We got off at the end of Stanley matthews Way and Matthew got a picture of 2279.

Wardle Transport 2279 on Stanley Matthews Way

We then had a short walk home. It took longer that usual as Matthew had developed a fascination with breaking up frozen snow as walked home. we arrived back in the house around 22:10...Mark

Trip to Newcastle 17-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40145	Wolstanton, opp Marsh Avenue	Newcastle BS	99	First Potteries
40152	Newcastle BS	Northwood Lane, Clayton	72	First Potteries
40152	Northwood Lane, Clayton	Newcastle BS	72	First Potteries
40150	Newcastle BS	Wilding Road Shops, Ball Green	98	First Potteries
40150	Wilding Road Shops, Ball Green	Newcastle BS	98	First Potteries
40145	Newcastle BS	Wolstanton, opp Marsh Avenue	99	First Potteries
40021	Wolstanton, opp Marsh Avenue	Newcastle BS	17	First Potteries
40021	Newcastle BS	Wolstanton, opp Marsh Avenue	17	First Potteries

Matthew was taken out for a 3rd day on the trot and started off with 40145 towards Newcastle.


40145 on a Newcastle service (Matt)

When in Newcastle Matthew saw 40152 in Newcastle on a #72 Clayton service. Matthew did this to Clayton and back. back at Newcastle 40150 came in on the #98 Ball Green and he also did this to the end and back. Matthew then did 40145 again back to Wolstanton.


40145 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

He then went back to his respite unit for tea. After tea he came out again and did 40021 to newcastle and back.


40021 in Wolstanton on a #17 service (Matt)

He then went home for a good nights sleep!...Mark

Trip to Hanford (Black Lion) 20-04-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
65038	Newcastle Rd, Black Lion	Hanford, Mayne Street	101	First Potteries
40169	Hanford, Church Lane	Trentham,Trentham hotel	21A	First Potteries
40152	Trentham,Trentham hotel	Blurton, Ladybank Gr(adj)	22	First Potteries

Nearing the end of the Easter holidays, we decided to take Matthew out for a meal. Behaviour permitting we were also going to let him catch a bus home as mum wanted to nip off to visit Grandma whilst we were part way there. On the way we passed 40147 on a 22 which we knew we might have a chance of catching later.


40147 on a 22 to Longton (Matt)

We had the meal at the Black Lion, where as usual we had the 2 courses for £6. The food was really nice, but the meal took a while longer as they were short staffed.
As we left the pub 40147 went passed towards Longton so we knew we would have an half an hour wait. Mum went off to see Grandma leaving me and Matthew behind. I thought that if the buses were timed correctly matthew could get 2 or 3 buses on his way home. First bus to show uop was a 101 stafford, so I asked him if he wanted to do this bus to Hanford and wait for the 22. he agreed so off went went for 2 stops down the road.


65038 on a #101 to Stafford (Matt)

Matthew got on and off as good as gold, and didn't try to take us to stafford instead. In Hanford we waited and once again I said to Matthew if a 21/21A turns up before the 22 we could do this into Trentham and wait there. 40146 went towards newcastle on a 22 so we knew that was another bus he wasn't going to have today. Sure enough, Marshall bodied dennis Dart 40169 turned up on a 21A and we did this to the Trentham Hotel.


40169 on a #21A to trentham (Matt)

As we got on the bus the driver recognised Matthew and said he could remember him catch buses when he was little. It's always nice when people remember him as he has been travelling on buses as hobby since he was 4 or 5!


40169 at journeys end on Longton Road (Matt)

When we got off in Trentham we had a short wait and 40152 produced. Slightly disappointing for Matthew as he had been on this one last we. At least I caught up a bus from matthew's busy week away :-)


40152 on a #22 to Longton (Matt)

We did 40152 to ladybank Grove, and then walked all the way home from there. this was the first time in a long time i've done a bus towards home for a long time (he usually takes me further and further away until I phone mum to be rescued!). Remember Matthew, the better your behaviour the more bus trips we can take... (Mark)

Trip to Newcastle-under-Lyme 15/04/2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40152	Wolstanton	Newcastle BS	99	First Potteries
40145	Newcastle BS	Wolstanton	99	First Potteries

Havimg had a day's break doing something in the countryside, Matthew was back out on the buses today. Having seen 40145 going away from Newcastle, first bus of the day was 40152.


Inside 40152 (Matt)

in Newcastle Matthew waited in town until 40145 turned up again...


40145 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

Matthew photographed the inside too.


Inside 40145 (Matt)

Back to Wolstanton for a final time...Mark

Trip to Newcastle-under-Lyme 26-06-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40152	Wolstanton	Newcastle BS	98	First Potteries

I was taken out on the bus by respite today. I did 40152 to Newcastle but didn't get apicture. I did get a picture of 40151 though.


40151 in wolstanton (Matt)

when at Newcastle I got a ride back in a car.The bus set down in , but we decided to stay on another stop to avoid taking Matthew through the busy streets. Next stop was in front of the tower which was probably even busier. A short walk along the front and we were in a quiet side street adjacent to the stop for the '6' where a slightly irate mum had been waiting for 25 minutes. Everyone else went back to the car via the toilets and I went to the take away / restaurant on the townside corner of Coral Island for 2 portions of chips to share before we set off home. We left around 18:00 as we left town we passed on Yeadon way, having finished it's duties for the day. Considering how chaotic everything was, I think it was a fairly successful trip. All 5 buses were photographed by Matthew and we managed to ride on