Trip to Abbey Hulton / Newcastle 20-06-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1321	Bentilee	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Charter	Wardle Transport
MIB 270	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Newcastle Adventure Playground	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 270	Newcastle Adventure Playground	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Charter	Copeland's Tours
1321	Bucknall Newhouse Road	Blurton	Charter	Wardle Transport

Today Matthew was going to college. He started the day in respite. He got up at 05:00 and had breakfast of toast and orange juice and got ready for college and then the bus appeared. It was Wardle Transport 1321.

Wardle Transport 1321 in Bentilee

The bus set off down down Dividy Road and into Bucknall. The bus then went down Newhouse Road. After registration is transport to the adventure playground today was Copeland's Tours MIB 270. The coach set off onto Newhouse Road. They then up to Hanley up limekiln Bank. They went around Hanley to Snow Hill and then along Shelton New Road. They then went down George Street into Newcastle and ten into the adventure playground. After a session in the playground they returned to Bucknall They headed out of Newcastle and up George Street to Shelton New Road. They then went up the the Hanley Ring Road and then down Limekiln Bank. On the A52 the turned onto Newhouse Road and into college. For dinner Matthew had chicken and chips with chocolate fudge cake for afters. Matthew went to say hello to someone. After a party with cake and and an afternoon swimming session Matthew went outside to see Wardle Transport 1321 waiting for his trip home. The bus went onto Leek Road in Abbey Hulton before heading through Bucknall Leek Road to Joiners Square. They then Went Victoria Road and through Fenton. They went along Christchurch Street and trough Heron Cross and then home around 16:00. He hadn't got is camera on him because it had been left at the Wardle Transport depot, so we jumped in the car to go fetch it! We headed onto the A5035 and headed East. At the lights by Newstead we caught up with Wardle Transport 1321 and waved before we set of to Longton. We then saw A16 BNT. We went around Longton past the Gladstone Pottery Museum and passed The Sea Lion and onto Anchor Road. We went up anchor road and along Mossfield Road to the bus depot. Mum went into the office and collected his bag and camera. When he got his camera he took a picture of the Trio of Dennis Trident parked up at the front of the depot.

Trident Trio: Wardle Transport 4891/6/8

Inside the depot we could see Wardle Transport 2259 receiving some attention. Also parked up were minibuses 1501 & 1455. We set off out of the gates and we passed several more vehicle returning to the depot. We saw solo 2547, Olympian 4652 and tri-axle Olympian 4545.

Wardle Transport 4545 on Mossfield Road

We turned onto Anchor Road and we passed his old college transport Wardle Transport 1450.

Wardle Transport 1450 on Anchor Road

We drove down into and around Longton and then we went passed the Z Carz depot and there wasn't a single bus there. We did see Z Carz T408 JUX as we headed on the A5035. We drove along the A5035 and then home for a short while. Around 18:00 we set of down the A34 and into Trentham. We dropped off few books and then went onto the A34. We went to the Trent vale MacDonald, but the drive through had closed for refurbishment, aswell as most of the car park??? We headed to the Longton MacDonalds along th a34, A500 and A50. After picking up his food we headed back via Heron Cross and Blurton Road. Matthew ate his MacDonalds and chilled out on his computer. He headed off to bed around 23;30...Mark.

Trip to Trent Vale 31-05-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40150	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today Matthew had a playscheme arranged for the morning, so we decided to take him on a bus to Trent Vale too. Matthew got up around 08:00 havig toast and orange juice for breakfast. He chilled out on his computer until around 09:30 wen mum took him up to Chell Heath. They turned onto the A5035 and then onto Stanley Matthews way. The went onto the westbound a50 and then onto the northbound A500. We saw Wardle transport 4652 on a #30 service on the A500. North of longport they turned onto the A527 Tunstall by-pass which they did over to High Lane. Off high Lane they turned down Spring bank road and into Heathfield school. She dropped him off at 10:00. Whilst there he did various thing including baking some chocolate cakes which he of course ate whilst he was there. We also spent some time outside where he was able to see buses go past. some of his sightings include bakerbus 183 & 250 on the #9 and 41495 on a #21. I picked him up from Chell Heath around 14:55. Matthew went to the toilet and then we departed. We went back via Spring Bank Road. As we turned onto Spring bank Road we saw Wardle Transport 4891 on another #61 turn. Te route back was a reverse of the rote in. High Lane, Tunstall by-pass, A500, A50, Stanley Matthews Way. Outside the Britannia stadium we saw Wardle Transport 2963 on the Plumline. We got home around 15:15 and we had a quick toilet stop before walking down to the stop on Magdalen Road. We had left the bus pass at home so we had to go back and fetch it. We returned to the stop at the exact time the bus was due. Luckily traffic was heavy today so the bus was a few minutes late. I had seen the turn early I the day so I knew the bus was going to be First potteries 40150. It turned up a round 5 minutes late and it was 40150 as predicted.

First Potteries 40150 in Blurton

We got on the bus and sat near the back. This is a bus that Matthew had done before but hadn't. He hadn't been on it for a long time, the last he did it was when he had respite in Parklands more than two years ago!. It was very warm and Matthew was glad I made him leave his jacket at home. The bus turned onto the a5035 and then onto New Inn Lane. We passed 40148 on a Longton bound #22 and we stopped on New Inn Lane to let someone off and the bus cut out! The bus was quickly restarted and we carried on to Wilson Road and Church Lane. We then got onto the A34 and then headed to Trent Vale, and then turned onto Harpfields Road. As we passed the Black Lion pub we had seen mum parking the car. We got off the bus and then Matthew took another picture of 40150 as it carried on to Newcastle.

First Potteries 40150 in Trent Vale

We walked onto the A34 towards the Black Lion. As we walked down we spotted a Scania in the distance. It was 65040 on a Hanley bound #101. He got a picture as it headed away.

First Potteries 65040 in Trent Vale

We walked to the pub car park and met up with mum. Inside Matthew had his usual brunch and toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. this was washed down with coke and blackcurrant and soda. Whilst we ate we saw a number of #101 including two the rarer Scania's for this service 65003 and 65004. We left the pub around 17:00, setting off to pick up uncle Dave. We headed down the A34 and onto the A500. As we joined the A50 we were alongside Wardle Transport 2260 on a #350 service. We headed to Heron Cross and after picking up uncle Dave We headed back through Heron Cross into Blurton. We got hone around 17:30. We then chilled out watching telly ad eating snacks. He also spent time on his computer and watching bus DVDs before going to bed around 23:30...Mark

Trip to Hanley / Tunstall 31-12-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40003	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
3415	Hanley BS	Endon, adj The Plough Hotel	118	Wardle Transport
40155	Endon, opp The Plough Hotel	Hanley BS	18	First Potteries
4687	Hanley BS	Bradeley, adj Moorland View	61	Wardle Transport
60004	Bradeley, opp Moorland View	Hanley BS	29	First Potteries
4687	Hanley BS	Tunstall, adj stop M	61	Wardle Transport
40020	Tunstall, adj stop M	Longport, adj Longport Road	99A	First Potteries

Today we decided to do a local trip. We had had heard on the Stafforshire and Merseyside bus group that Wardle Transport Scania 3415 had been doing the #118 Hanley - Buxton service. We thought that if we were lucky then the bus would work again today. We checked the weather for today and it was for rain. Matthew got up around 11:15 and he had an oatcake and some orange juice for breakfast. we set off just after 12:00 and we walked to the distance over to the Ladybank Grove stop. We saw a Plaxton bus approaching as we walked to the stop and we decided to run for it. As we got to the stop we turned to see it was dud first Potteries 40003.

First Potteries 40003 'Dinky Donut' #23 favourite!

We got on the bus and booked a Smartday ticket. We sat down near the back of the bus and it was nearly empty. The bus filled up as we headed through Blurton and Heron Cross. At Heron Cross we passed Lightning Travel NX03 JYJ parked up. In Stoke we saw First Potteries 32632 on a Hanley bound #25. We then headed up past the railway station and up College Road. We reached Hanley a little before 13:00 and when we got there we went onto the balcony. I went to fetch some chips and Matthew and Uncle Dave stood on the balcony. Whilst I was getting chips required Wardle Transport 4896 made an appearance on the #30 to Bradwell.

Wardle Transport 4896 at Hanley bus station on a #30

At the same time Wardle Transport 2038 appeared to work the #190 service to Cranberry.

Wardle Transport 2038 at Hanley bus station on a #190

As I walked up with the chips to the balcony, Wardle Transport 3415 made an appearance and it was on the inbound 118 service. So unless it swapped it was going to work the 13:45 to Buxton. We ate our chips and we spent 30 or so minutes taking picture from the Balcony. We saw required Wardle Transport 4652 on the 13:00 #61 to Tunstall. We also saw Wardle Transport 4687 on the 13:30 #61 to Tunstall too. So we had seen 2 of the 3 Wardle double deckers buses that Matthew requires working in a few minutes. Just before 13:45 we decided to walk down to stand W to wait for the #118 service. Matthew got a picture of the bus whilst it waited on the opposite side.

Wardle Transport 3415 at Hanley bus station

Just before time it pulled of the waiting area and did a lap of the bus station and pulled onto the stand. Inside the bus it had been configured for schools work, with 57 seats arranged in a 2 + 3 arrangement, fitted with seatbelts too.

Inside Wardle Transport 3415

With this arrangement its chances of working a service bus are somewhat limited. We deicede to do this bus up to Endon which is the limit of our Smartday ticket. As we pulled off we also saw Wardle Transport 2300 was also parked up by the bus station between duties. As we passed Meigh Street we saw Wardle Transport 4692 on the other #61 turn. This meant that all 3 of Matthew required wardle deckers were working today. The bus sounded really good and hopefully it will have a few more years work left in it. As we approached Endon we shouted to let the driver know we wanted to get off. There appears to be only one bell one this bus and it is at he front. You don't really need bells on a School bus as they generally only have one destination! After we got of we crossed the road to wait for the return service to Hanley. We had around 10 minutes w saw a bus in the distance. A couple of minutes dud First Potteries 40155 appeared.

First Potteries 40155 in Endon

We sat down near the back and then relaxed as we did the 20 odd minute journey into town. We got off and went onto the balcony. We decided to do the next #61 as 2 of the 3 buses out were required ones. Unfortunately for us, the next one out at 15:00 was worked by the one bus we had been on before, Wardle Transport 4687.

Wardle Transport 4687 in Hanley bus station

We got on and sat upstairs. Matthew took a picture of the bus which had been re-upholstered since we last did this.

Inside Wardle Transport 4687

We decided to do this to Bradley, hopefully getting one of the other required buses back. We did the bus up to Bradeley but we didn't pass any of the other buses whilst we were out. If I had checked I would have seen the the 15:00 off Hanley only goes to Chell and then comes back. We got and got a picture.

Wardle Transport 4687 in Bradeley

We then crossed the road to wait for the return. I had the idea of catch the #29 back instead of doing the #61. We could always do the #61 back out. The #29 approached and it was dud First Potteries 60004.

First Potteries 60004 in Bradeley

The bus was empty so he got his empty bus picture there and then.

Inside First Potteries 60004

We got back in Hanley around 15:50ish and then a few minutes later Wardle Transport 4687 re-appeared! We thought it was going to be one of the other 2 buses. Matthew want to go to the toilet, but as we tried to go to the tardis at the end it was busy with someone else waiting to use it too. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do 4687 to Tunstall so he could use a toilet there instead and he said yes. So we got back on Wardle 4687 to go to Tunstall. it was now starting to go dark and it rained quite hard for most of the journey up. When we got to Tunstall High Street it was fully dark and raining hard. We got off the bus and jogged down to the toilets. I then arrange with mum to meet us at Longport. We ran back up to the stop and there was an Optare Solo at the stop on a #99A. It was required First Potteries 40020.

First Potteries 40020 in Tunstall

Matthew beeped the horn as he got on and we sat down. It was nearly empty but a couple more people got on before we set off. We went down the road towards Trubshaw Cross, past the potential site of a new Morrisons. We picked up a couple more on the trip down and then we got off at Longport. Mum wasn't waiting for us so we decided to nip to the local off license. Matthew got a big bottle of Coke and a galaxy Caramel. We went back to the stop to shelter from the rain. A few minutes later mum appeared to rescue us from the rain. We headed back down the A500 to stoke where came off on Wheildon Road to drop Uncle dave off home. We then went up to heron Cross and then home. We got home around 17:30. For tea matthew had a fish finger sandwich with a chocolate cake and cream for afters. He then chilled out before welcoming in the New Year...Mark

Trip to Uttoxeter 31-10-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
PAG 512A	Uttoxeter BS	Blythe Bridge, adj Aynsley School	184	Phil Smiths Travel
60078	Blythe Bridge, opp Aynsley School	Blythe Bridge, adj Police Station	6A	First Potteries
4650	Blythe Bridge, adj Police Station	Uttoxeter BS	X50	Wardle Transport
2259	Uttoxeter BS	The Wharf, nr The Fire Station	4	Arriva Midlands
4017	Uttoxeter BS	Sudbury, adj Portway Head	1	Arriva Midlands
4777	Sudbury, opp Portway Head	Fenton, adj Travers Court	X50	Wardle Transport

Today we decided to go to Uttoxeter and cover the WO #184 Uttoxeter - Weston Coyney service. It also gave us the chance to travel on the X50 and then pick up a few Arriva Midlands buses too. As usual we checked the weather the night before and it was supposed to be cloudy with intermittent rain. I didn'tdo much research appart from download the latest X50 timetable, which had changed since the last time we used it. The X50 no longer runs express from Blythe Bridge to Uttoxeter. The bus now runs via Draycott, Tean and Checkley. This adds around 10 minutes to the journey to Uttoxeter, but it also helps the service to be more viable. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had some toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off a little after 12;00 and we stopped at the bakery on Nashe Drive for bacon and egg sandwiches to keep us going. After we had finished eating we set off onto Longton Hall Road and into Longton. We dropped onto the A50 at the eastern end of town and then headed off to Uttoxteter. Just West of Uttoxeter we came off the A50 and drove into town along the A522. We parked up around 12:50 and there was a flurry of activity at the bus station. Trent Barton 738 was broken down in the bus station. 3715 was stabled between duties, Trent Barton 737 was on a Swift service. First PMT 65002 was on a #32 service and required Arriva Midlands 2259 was on the #4 town service.

Arriva Midlands 2259 in Uttoxeter bus station

We had a quick trip to the toilet and then after a short wait, the bus that we had gone up to travel on appeared and it was dud Phil Smiths Travel Mercedes 814d PAG 512A. We waited for it to load up before getting a picture of the bus.

Phil Smiths Travel PAG 521A in Uttoxeter bus station

After all the regulars had loaded we got on and sat at the back of the bus. We then sat back to enjoy what is a great run on a high spec modern minibus. It is a shame for some of the elderly passengers that great bus is a step entranced vehicle. As is often the case on these kind of services the driver was great in helping the passengers on and off the bus. It was really nice to go thundering through the South end of the Staffordshire Moorlands in Autumn. When we passed through Cheadle we saw an unidentified Wardle Transport Dart in the new livery. As we left Cheadle we saw Wardle Transport 2546 also in the new Livery. After the last passengers had alighted in Draycott,we decided to move to the front to talk to the driver. Wedid find out that they do have another vehicle that works the service from time to time so maybe we will get a ride on that sometime in the future. We were originally going to go to Catchems Corner, but as the bus was on the route of the #6A/X50 we decided to get off near Aynsley School on Uttoxeter Road. When we got off Matthew got a picture of the empty Inside of this fine minibus.

Inside Phil Smiths Travel PAG 521A

After we got of I decided to download the #6A timetable to see if we could get another bus in whilst we waited for the X50. I looked up the time for the next Meir bound bus and it was due of Blythe bridge at 14:16 booked in Meir Broadway at 14:26 which would give us 3 minutes if the bus was on time. I couldn't remember seeing a bus go towards Blythe Bridge so I decided to look up the time of the inbound bus. The bus was due at the terminus at 14:11 and was due passed our location around 14:07. The time passed and required First PMT 60012 went up towards Blythe Bridge just under 10 minutes late. I thought if the bus didn't appear back for around 14:22 there wasn't much chance of meeting the X50 at Meir. 14:22 came and went and then we crossed over to wait for the X50. A few minutes later 60012 returned and Matthew got a picture.

First PMT 60012 in Blythe Bridge

Of course in hindsight if we had know the bus was going to be late, We could have caught the bus up to Blythe Bridge and back. The X50 was due here at around 14:41 and it occurred to me that the next #6A to Blythe Bridge may appear before the X50. The #6A did appear and it was required First PMT 60078

First PMT 60078 in Blythe Bridge

We did the bus 3 stops up the Road to a point where I knew the X50 would call. I was no longer familiar with the route since the timetable change. When we got off in the distance we saw the crossing barrier going down, so we knew we would have a few minutes to wait. Whilst we waited Wardle Transport 2546 made another appearance and Matthew got a picture.

Wardle Transport 2546 in Blythe Bridge

A couple of minutes later we saw a NC bodied Olympian cross the crossing and we thought there was a 50/50 chance of this being required for Matthew. As it got closer we saw it was dud Wardle Transport 4650. It was dud for Matthew as he had been on this bus albeit for a few hundred yards back in August 2011 when he was out with Crossroads. It was however required by me! We got on the bus and went upstairs. As we set off we passed the inbound X50 service and it was required by all Wardle Transport 4652. After passing through Blythe Bridge we set off along Uttoxeter Road to Tean. At Tean we joined the A522 which was the road all the way to Uttoxeter. As we passed through Checkley everyone else on the top deck got off the bus and then Matthew got a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside Wardle Transport 4650

We carried on along the A522 into Uttoxeter, and when we got off Matthew was able to get a reasonable picture of 4650.

Wardle Transport 4650 in Uttoxeter

When we got off, required Arriva 3711 had arrived on the #428 from Lichfield and Matthew got a picture of this.

Arriva Midlands 3711 in Uttoxeter bus station

This then chnage to work the #402 to Burton which was due off at 15:40. Sibce the re-routing and re-timing of the X50 meant that we had just missed the #4 town service, we decided to wait for this to re-appear at 15;25 to see what was on it. This turned up and it was still Arriva Midlands 2259 as was earlier. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do Arriva Midlands 3711 and he said 'yes'. I worked out that we could do the town service out of town a couple of stops and then walk back to do the 15:40. We caught this out to the Fox's biscuit factory and got off. As we walked back into town we also saw Trent Barton 737 reappear on the Swift service. as it was 15:35 when we got back we had a quick toilet stop. The plan at this point was to do 3711 on the #402 to uttoxeter station for a plus 3 onto the inbound #402 and then to wait for the X50. As we rounded the corner into the bus station we saw an Arriva double decker! Having never actual seen a double decker here before (we have passed a double decker on the #1 once in the past) I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this to Sudbury instead and come back on the X50. Matthew of course said yes and so he got his picture and then we got on the bus.

Arriva Midlands 4017 in Uttoxeter bus station

We got on and went upstairs. As it was quiet apart from a couple of kids at the front of the bus, Matthew got his empty bus picture looking backwards.

Inside Arriva Midlands 4017

As we set of at 15;40, I downloaded the #1 timetable from the Arriva Midlands sight. My calculation worked out that we had a plus 3 at Sudbury for the returning bus. I had given mum instruction to wait in Uttoxeter until i called her to say that we were safely on the X50 just in case the move went horribly wrong. We set off through Doveridge and we made good time. We arrived at our stop bang on 15:53. We then crossed the road to wait for the X50. After a round 5 minutes, the bus appeared and it was Wardle Transport 4777. Matthew got a picture in the now failing light.

Wardle Transport 4777 in Sudbury

We got on and went upstairs. We made the call to mum to say we were on the bus safely and that she could go and pick up Uncle Dave from work. As we hadn't been to a shop I decided to break out emergency rations. Firstly we shared a can On Coke. We then arrived at Utoexeter. We switched seats onto the other side of the bus so that we could get a picture of Arriva Midlands 2259 which was stabled up ready to work the #428 service in the bus station. We also saw Wardle Transport 4652 on its way to Derby After the bus set off from Uttoxeter we broke out the emergency Flapjack which we also shared. By the time we had got to Tean it had gone dark and the rain started to fall. We trundled though Blythe Bridge and in Meir Heath we saw an ALX200 Dart set off in front of us on a #6 service. Matthew made a not in my phone that it was First PMT 40154 even though it was to dark and to far away to see if it was correct. Out by rough Close we passed Wardle Transport 4650 which was Derby bound. When we got to Meir Broadway we caught up with the ALX200 Dart and it was indeed 40154. We then set off along the A50 straight past Longton and off at Heron Cross. We said bye bye as we went past the end of Duke Street and then we went into Fenton. We then passed 41494 heading towards Longton. We got off at Travers Court and Matthew got another picture of Wardle Transport 4777.

Wardle Transport 4777 in Fenton

We walked down to Smithpool Road to meet mum. On the way we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 797 on the #40 service. We got in the car and we ate a sausage roll each that mum had purchase from Uttoxeter. When we got back home around 17:20 he had his proper tea which was Sausage Chips and gravy. After a couple of hours chilling at home we went around Uncle Dave's house for pop and Custard Creams. We set off just after 22:00 and we got home and started to write the Blog 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