Trip to Packmoor / Hanley 16-02-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
GN60 GZM	Packmoor	YMCA Hanley	Charter	Middlehurst
GN60 GZM	YMCA Hanley	Packmoor	Charter	Middlehurst

Today Matthew was going on an Aiming trip to the YMCA in Hanley to do activities such as archery. We got up around 08:30, and then we realised that the activity started at 09:30 so we rushed to get ready and we set off just after 09:00. We drove onto the A5035 and onto Stanley Matthew Way past the Hem Heath pub. We then got onto the Westbound A50 and then the Northbound A500. We got off the a500 and did the Tunstall by-pass up to Packmoor turning left at the top of the hill. We got there just in time and Matthew we down to the computer room as he usually does as he waited for time. When it was time to go he got a picture of his transport which was unusually Middlehurst bus GN60 GZM instead of the usual Aiming High vehicle.

Middlehurst GN60 GZM about to set off for the YMCA

The bus left and went onto the A5272 to the edge of Hanley then around the ring road. They left the rod near the fire station and then drove down to the YMCA. First activity of the day was archery, and reports came came that Matthew did really well at this.

Archery in the YMCA

They then had a stint on the climbing wall, which is something he has done before so we knew he could do this well.

Climbing wall in the YMCA

They then set off back to Middlehurst. They went up to the ring road and back along the a5272 to Chell continuing on to middlehurst. He had a quick session on the computers before we arrived to pick him up at 12:30. Whilst mum talked to staff about his activities I drove him down the car park to get a picture of Aiming High FJ10 BJY in the bottom car park.

Aiming High FJ10 BJY in Middlehurst

We turned around and he got another picture of GN60 GZM before we left.

Middlehurst GN60 GZM back at school

We had decided to go Westport Lake for the afternoon but we had left uncle Dave at home. So we decided to pick up some food and go back before setting off to Westport Lake. We drove down the Tunstall by-pass down to the A500. We then drove south to the A50 and then came off at Heron Cross. We passed Lightning Travel NX03 JYJ and visitor WX06 VSA currently being worked on. We stopped at the new sandwich shop on Blurton Road and ordered some food before returning home passing 41512 on the #23. After eating the food we set off back to Westport Lake. We went along Stanley Matthews Way to the A50 and northbound on the A500, We came off at Longport and we saw 40145 on a Newcastle service. We then went up to Trubshaw Cross and turned towards Tunstall before turning off for Westport Lake. We had brought brown bread and seeds to feed the birds, and we spent around an hour going around the lake and feeding birds.

Ducks and geese in Westport lake

When we got back round to the car there was an ice cream van so mum and Matthew had some ice cream. We then set off on a bit of an extended drive home. We headed North through Tunstall and toward Kidsgrove. We passed 61143 on a Southbound #20 and we could see a Northbound #20 in front of us. We eventually caught it up a mile or so up the road and it was 60015. We carried on up the A50 to Fourlanes End before turning right. We travelled through the village of Smallwood and a few mile on before reaching the A34. We headed South through Scholar Green and Talke. When we crossed the A500 we saw Bakers Coach 3563 RU which we followed down to Milehouse. We passed the Newcastle First depot where we saw 40017/018/60069/205. We the headed up George Street and onto shelton new road before joining the Southbound A500. We did this to the A50, and we got off the A50 at Longton to view the Z Carz depot. There were only 3 buses present today. First we saw Scania coach D104 XAN...

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

We the saw coach V690 EBC...

Z Carz V690 EBC in Longton

Last but not least we saw LDV minibus T408 JUX

Z Carz T408 JUX in Longton

We then headed down Longton hall Road, stopping at the shops for lottery tickets, pop and cakes! We passed 40153 on the #22 and passed 41512 on the #23 again. We got home just after 16:00. We had a late tea of bangers and mash and Matthew chilled out on his computer before bedtime...Mark

Trip to The Monkey Forest 03-04-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJY	Middlehurst, Packmoor	Monkey Forest, Trentham	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJY	Monkey Forest, Trentham	Middlehurst, Packmoor	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew went to the Monkey Forest with Aiming High. Matthew didn't go to sleep until 03:00 but that's not particularly novel. We got him up at 08:30 as we had to be at Middlehurst at 10:00. After breakfast we set off Northwards up the A500 up to Tunstall and then across to Packmoor along the new Tunstall by-pass. Matthew got a picture of his transport for today, Aiming High FJ10 BJY.

Aiming High FJ10 BJY in Middlehurst

He also got a picture of Middlehurst own minibus GN60 GZW.

Middlehurst GN60 GZW in Middlehurst

We left Matthew in their care. Matthew used the toilet in the school and then they boarded the minibus. he saw First Potteries 61238 on a #7 service. The route down to Trentham would likely be Tunstall by-pass, A500 South Bound to Hanford, and then Southwards down the A34 to the Monkey Forest entrance. Here he saw Z Carz D104 XAN. Also present was Procters Coaches NIL 3944. Matthew seemed to be quite interested in the Monkeys as he took lots of pictures.

A Monkey!

The Monkeys here are in fact Barbary Macaques with according there web site are native to Morocco and Algeria.

Another Monkey!

There are 2 different groups that have come from parks elsewhere in Europe.

Monkey on a trunk

He did later find a whole group to take a picture of.

Multiple Monkeys

There is also the Banana Cafe where you get snacks. Matthew had some Chocolate cake here.

The cafe

Matthew used the toilet here before they set off back to Middlehurst. The route would have been the reverse of the route down. A34 North to Hanford, A500 past Tunstall and then across the Tunstall by-pass to Packmoor. They got back around 15:00 and Matthew used the toilet in the school before we set off home. Reports say Matthew enjoyed himself and was well behaved. I think they tell us that regardless to be honest! I don't think we came straight home as we rarely take a straight line anywhere. Likely route are via Bentilee to see the First Potteries garage, or a trip up to Mow Cop and back via High Lane into Hanley. As it was a Tuesday then Matthew would more than likely have had a MacDonalds. We passed the local Post Office and we also stopped at Costcutters in Blurton on the way home. On the way through Blurton we passed First Potteries 40153 on a Longton bound #22 service.

First Potteries 40153 on the #22

We then did the short drive home before settling down for the evening and then 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

Trip to Kidsgrove 06-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40026	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Church Street, Stoke	23	First Potteries
116	Church Street, Stoke	Hanley BS	41	D & G
116	Hanley BS	Church Street, Stoke	41	D & G
30	Church Street, Stoke	Hanley BS	41	D & G
60194	Hanley BS	Clough Hall, Forth Ave (opp)	20A	First Potteries
60128	Clough Hall, Forth Ave (adj)	Hanley BS	20A	First Potteries
65732	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	34A	First Potteries

With it being the last weekend of D&G's North Staffordshire operation running before the impending take over by Wardle Transport, I decided to cover the #41 service with Matthew. Firstly because of the fairly frequent service, and secondly because there are sometimes step entranced buses on this service. We set off from home around midday, and we caught the 12:11 #23A service from Blurton. Unusually it was a Solo, and better still it was required! 40026 appeared from around the corner.


40026 in Blurton (Matt)

We did the bus to Stoke and with it being a Solo it filled up pretty quickly especially with two prams in the front.


40026 in Stoke (Matt)

When we arrived in Stoke we had around 5 minutes to wait for the 12:30 #41 service to Hanley, the Clayton bound #41 was D&G 30. Matthew indicated that he wanted to catch this bus later. Eventually the Hanley bound #41 appeared and it was Marshall bodied Dart 116.


D&G 116 in Stoke on the #41 to Birches Head (Matt)

When we got to Hanley, Matthew took a picture of the interior of this bus.

when we arrived in Hanley, Matthew took a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside D&G 116 (Matt)

This bus has the same strange interior as D&G 14 that we saw last week. We saw the Clayton bound bus in Hanley bus station and it was D&G 14! We let the bus go and Matthew got a picture of D&G 14 as it departed.


D&G 14 in Hanley departing for Clayton (Matt)

At this point we decide to have a short chip break. I went down to get two portions of chips from Tony's to share between the three of us, whilst Matthew watched the buses. it didn't take long to get the chips and we soon polished them off. They were washed down with cans of orange Fanta. After around 30 minutes the next Clayton service turned up and not surprisingly it was D&G 116 again. unfortunately, we needed to do this in order to get D&G 30. In the mean time we spotted D&G 132 heading towards Birches Head on the forth and final diagram. we went down to ground level and boarded D&G 116 which we did to Stoke.


D&G 116 in Hanley departing for Clayton (Matt)

When in stoke we didn't have to wait for long before D&G 30 appeared. Matthew got a picture before we boarded.


D&G 30 in Stoke (Matt)

We did this to Hanley and Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus, before we alighted we noticed an Arriva plaque on the drivers door. From the files in the staffordshire and merseyside yahoo group this bus came to D&G via Quantock and was previously with Northumbria Coaches as YD02 RGY.


Inside D&G 30 (Matt)

whilst going up to the balcony, D&G 132 left so we did not get chance to do this bus. At this point we had no plan. Matthew wanted to go to Crewe or even to Alton Towers, but we knew that we would not have today. Eventually we down to catch a #20 and it pulled off. Matthew was reluctant to move so a couple of minutes later when 60194 came in on a #20A we got on it. It was not required but it was virtually empty and it was a bus we could catch out of Hanley. As we were first on Matthew got the interior shot


Inside First Potteries 60194 (Matt)

We did this bus up to Kidsgrove and it was virtually empty all the way. this was because two #20's had left Hanley only a few minutes before. when it pulled up at Tunstall, one passenger at the stop asked "Why isn't anyone getting on?" before he boarded the bus. As I wanted to alight somewhere quiet, we got off two stops out of Kidsgrove at forth avenue, where Matthew got a picture as it pulled off.


60194 powers away in the Clough Hall area of Kidsgrove on it's #20A service (Matt)

Not sure of the frequency, we waited for the bus back to Hanley. we didn't have to wait to long before 60128 appeared.


60128 on a #20A to Hanley (Matt)

We did this back to Hanley and as t emptied Matthew got a shot of the interior.


Inside 60128 (Matt)

When we got back to Hanley we needed to think about getting home. we gave Matthew a few choice of places to go and he chose Newcastle. So we went down to stand where the #34A and #17 services depart from. We didn't have to wait long before required 65732 appeared on a #34A. As we were once again first on Matthew photographed the empty bus.


Inside 65732 (Matt)

Whilst on the bus mum called to ask where we were. this was lucky because my phone had run out of credit. We then arranged to meet at the bus station a few minutes later. When we got to Newcastle Matthew was unable to get a good picture of 65732. We went to the bottom of the bus station to wait for mum. On stand was a 40145 which was about to do a #72 clayton.


40145 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

Also seen was 40153 on an inbound #99A service.



40153 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

As we were leaving we saw an Arriva midlands bus 3468 N168 PUT, but we were unable to get a picture. We then went Home via Aldi and we picked up some bottle of lager shandy...Mark

Trip to Newcastle-under-Lyme 13/04/2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40153	Wolstanton	Newcastle BS	99B	First Potteries
40153	Newcastle BS	Tunstall	99B	First Potteries
40151	Tunstall	Newcastle BS	99	First Potteries
40153	Newcastle BS	Wolstanton	98	First Potteries
F39 ENF	Crewe BS	Burford	X19	Stanways
F39 ENF	Burford	Crewe BS	X19	Stanways

Matthew Whilst in respite, they took Matthew out on a bus. First bus of the day was 40153 on a Newcastle bound service. When he got to the bus station he took a picture.


40153 again, in newcastle bus station (Matt)

Matthew decided D&G 137 Dennis Dart with Marshall body to go straight out again on this bus. when he got on he took a picture of the inside of this bus.


Inside 40153 (Matt)

He decided to do this up to Tunstall. At Tunstall he caught the next Newcastle bound bus which happened to be 40151. Back in Newcastle he photographed the inside of this bus too.


Inside 40151 (Matt)

At this point Matthew took a bit of a break from the buses. When he returned to the bus station he waited for the next Wolstanton bus. Also observed today was 40145. The next bus just happened to be 40153 again! Matthew was then able to take Arriva 7647 in Crewe.A few more picture before we departed for respite. Later Matthew was taken out to on service X19 Crewe - Burford - Malpas - Tarvin - Chester Stanways F39 ENF returning later he photographed the inside of this 53 seat Leyland Tiger Ex Heartlands bus. D&G 157 to Crewe. In Crewe he saw D&G 25 waiting to do it's next service and First PMT 40147 on a #20. Hanley - Tunstall. Afterwards back to Wolstanton and then had a walk to respite...Mark

Trip to Newcastle-under-Lyme 12/04/2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40153	Wolstanton	Newcastle BS	98	First Potteries
40153	Newcastle BS	Wolstanton	98	First Potteries

Matthew was in respite nad he was taken out by someone on the bus to Newcastle and back. the First bus to turn up was 40153 which they did to Newcastle. not before he got a photograph of the bus as he boarded.


40153 In Wolstanton (Matt)

When they arrived in Newcastle Matthew photographed the inside of the bus.


Inside 40153 In Newcastle Bus Station (Matt)

Whilst in the bus station Matthew saw step entranced First Volvo 31519. Whilst in Newcastle Matthew walked around town, stopping at the cake shop where Matthew photographed some cakes in the shop window.


Honeybuns Chocolate Shortbread (Matt)

After his walk around town, Matthew returned to the bus station to catch a bus back. He was unfortunate that it was the same bus back. At least Matthew like these ALX200 buses...Mark