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 on the Beatrice 31-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	John St, Hanley	Cheddleton	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Cheddleton	John St, Hanley	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew went on a trip on the Beatrice canal barge. The barge for disabled children, was organised by Aiming High and as usual they organise transport from Hanley on one of their own vehicles. We arrived in Hanley about 09:40 which gave Matthew an opportunity to watch and photograph buses. Whilst stand outside the bus station for around 15 minutes, Matthew first spot this Alton Towers Transport bus entering the bus station.


Alton Towers Transport M425 UNW enters Hanley bus station (Matt)

There were many First buses in and out of the bus station in this short time. one of which was 40169 seen on a #23 Blurton service.


40169 on a #23 Blurton (Matt)

Another interesting service is the #61 to Tunstall operated by Wardle Transport. On weekdays this is many opperated by double decker buses. One such bus seen today on this 30 minutes frequency service is 4652.


Wardle Transport 4652 entering Hanley bus station (Matt)

As it closer to time we walked down to John Street. After a short while the vehicle turned up. on this occasion it was FJ10 BJX.


Aiming High FJ10 BJX in John Street about to work to Cheddleton (Matt)

Matthew then gave me his camera whilst he went on the bus. When he returned he seemed very happy and virtually bounced off the bus. Mum then took him home via the Wrights Pie shop in Hanford where sausage rolls and Manchester tarts were purchased.


Manchester Tarts in the Wrights Pie shop in Hanford (Matt)

With a car full of food, Matthew went home very happy..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)