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 to Rudyard Lake 15-08-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	Shelton, opp Cemetery Road	Rudyard Lake	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Rudyard Lake	Shelton, adj Cemetery Road	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew was going to Rudyard Lake. This was the third time he was due to go to Rudyard Lake this year, but it was the first time he actually got to go. The first the time the weather was really poor ans it was cancelled at short notice, the second time was the 15th July, The day before he was due to go and told us it was cancelled because the boat had broke and he went to Tatton Park instead. We checked the weather for today, and it said it would be clear until around 12:00 with rain moving in for the afternoon. Matthew got up a little after 08:00. He needed a little bit of persuasion to get up, but he got out of bed eventually and had toast for breakfast. He was picked up by a couple of members of staff from Crossroads and they took him up the Shelton to meet the bus. On the way up he passed Wardle Transport 4777 on the X50. When he got to Shelton his transport for the day was waiting. It was Aiming High FJ10 BJX.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Shelton

They went up to John Street in Hanley to pick up a few others and whilst there he saw First Potteries 60013 on a #20 to Crewe. Also in Hanley they saw GHA single decker SB27 on the X81. He also saw First 60081 on the #34. They headed North Eastwards to Leek and then up the A523 to Rudyard Lake. They also stopped at a new Shell garage. At the lake Matthew took a few pictures. Here is a picture of the lake with many boats moored up on there.

Boats on Rudyard Lake

Later he took a picture of the jetty.

The jetty on Rudyard Lake

They went out on a boat for a while and then it started to rain heavily so the headed back to shore.

Another jetty on Rudyard Lake

After they got back to shore they decided to have a trip on the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway. It was the red tank engine King Aurthur on his train.

King Aurthur at The Dam station

After a round trip on the railway, they headed back to the minibus and headed homewards. Matthew also saw a coach parked up at the lake. He headed back to shelton. They travelled down the A523 and then onto the A53. At Cobridge they turned left toeards Hanley. They then went around Hanley and then to Shelton along Shelton New Road. The two members of staff drove him home and saw Mercedes minibus N257 BWC. In Stoke he saw 60063 on the #26 service. they then went through Fenton to the A50 link road and then to Heron Cross and Blurton. Matthew got home a little earlier than expected just before 15:00. He then had his usual Wednesday night of a chippy tea and then a visit to Uncle Dave's before returning home just before bedtime...Mark

Trip to the 'Potteries Connection' running day 05-08-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
55	Gladstone pottery Museum	Stone, Crown Street	252	Bournemouth (Preserved)
55	Stone, Crown Street	Gladstone pottery Museum	252	Bournemouth (Preserved)
4777	Gladstone pottery Museum	Hanley BS	6	Wardle Transport
EEH902Y	Hanley BS	Gladstone pottery Museum	6	Midland Red North (Preserved)

Today Smart Matthew and the staff at his respite unit had plans. They were going to Bath today. He was too excited and didn't sleep until 03:30. He was looking at Bath's latest bus on Dorchester Street thinking about his next visit. Matthew was in his new respite unit today, so we arranged for them to take him out to the 'Potteries Connection' running day as this is one of the local highlights of the bus calender. We arranged for a PA to go in and help out with his trip. Matthew got up around 07:00. Matthew had some toast for breakfast. He saw Z Carz T131 SGA to Bath out of the window. Unfortunately the had to cancel last minute due to a fault on the vehicle. we drove to Longton and waited for the coach around 09:15. after a few minutes, we phoned up to see where the coach was and we were told the bad news. We got in the car and drove from Longton to the depot to sort things out. Whilst mum spoke to the control Matthew got a picture of the coach we were due to be on. We went into the office to mum and we sorted out a new date for a trip on this coach. A member of the staff then took Matthew onto the coach in order for him to take a few pictures of the inside. They then went to Longton and then walked in to the Gladstone Pottery Museum car park where the event is held. we also saw Wardle Transport 2531 on the #22 Newcastle service. They brought a programme and Matthew purchased a few photographs from on of the stalls. They also spent a short amount of time taking pictures. One such picture was of this fine example of a Leyland Lynx.

Ex PMT 860 in Stoniers livery at the Gladstone Museum

we also saw National Express AFH 186T and PMT Daimler Fleetliner 147. Another bus we saw was Plaxton bodied coach Bassetts JRE 354V displaying 'Blackpool' on the front. we also saw Midland Red JHA 227L. We also saw PMT L466 and Turners 10. Matthew also spied Bournemouth 55, which we had been on previously to Barlaston back in May.

Preserved Bournemouth 55 at the Gladstone Museum

Matthew decided he was going to do this and so they did it on a run to Stone. The bus went along the A50 to Meir, and then onto the A520 down to Stone. When they went around Stone, they went past Morrisons. They then got off behind the Crown Hotel. Matthew got another picture of this fine beast.

Preserved Bournemouth 55 in Stone

They then went back to Gladstone on the same bus. They went around Stone and back onto the A520. They did this up to Meir and then onto the A50 to Longton. When then got back they saw Wardle Transport 4777 about to work to Hanley and so they decided to do this too. They got on and they went upstairs. The bus got onto the A50 to Heron Cross and then went on Victoria Road. They crossed the roundabout over Joiners Square and then went up to Hanley and then into the bus station. As he was about to get off Matthew got a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside Wardle Transport 4777

Whilst in Hanley we saw First Potteries 60189 on a #20 service.Going from to Hanley was preserved Midland Red North 1902. we also went upstairs on this bus too. He wasn't able to get a decent picture of this bus. They went down Through Joiners Square to Fenton. At Victoria place they got onto the link road and then onto the A50 up to longton. Whilst at Gladstone he also saw Bournemouth Transport 103. It was then off along the A5035 to Blurton. They saw Wardle Transport 2531 on the #22 service. They went to the Gables for Lunch. Matthew ate gammon, egg and chips, with bread and butter. For dessert he had chocolate fudge cake and custard. He also had a coke. When he was finished he went to the toilet. It was then time to go back to the respite unit. They went back past Longton Transport interchange. we They saw V690 EBC at the Z Carz depot. They set off back around 13:30. The route back was along Anchor Road to Adderley Green and then on to Bucknall. He then settled down to an afternoon in his new respite unit. Using his computer, watching telly and running around outside in the garden. For tea he had fish and chips with a yogurt for afters. He then had bath before bedtime..Mark.

Trip to Uttoxeter 11-04-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
PAG 512A	Uttoxeter BS	Catchems Corner	184	Phil Smiths Travel
61239	Blythe Bridge, adj Greenacres Avenue	Meir Broadway	6	First Potteries
4895	Meir Broasdway	Uttoxeter BS	X50	Wardle Transport
2217	Uttoxeter BS	Pennycroft Road	4	Arriva Midlands
2217	Pennycroft Road	Uttoxeter BS	4	Arriva Midlands
2288	Uttoxeter BS	Uttoxeter railway station	402	Arriva Midlands
2242	Uttoxeter railway station	Uttoxeter BS	402	Arriva Midlands
4777	Uttoxeter BS	Fenton, adj Travers Court	X50	Wardle Transport

Today I had another day off so we planned to go back to Uttoxeter and this week to cover the #184. We set off around 12:30 and today we direct to Uttoxeter. We saw 40147 on a #22 service and then we got to Uttoxtere arriving at 12:55 just before the 13:00 to Weston Coyney. On Arrival we saw East Staffs Mobility Link minibus MX04 KND in the car park by the shopping arcade. We then walked around to the bus station to wait for the bus. The bus arrived around 13:02 and loaded up promptly. It was a plain white Mercedes minibus, required PAG 512A.

Phil Smiths Travel PAG 512A in Uttoxeter

We got on the bus with the other eight passengers and the bus driver recognised us from last time we did the service which was probably close on 3 years ago! As we left Uttoxeter we passed Wardle Transport 4895 which we knew should be our bus back to Uttoxeter. We sat near the back ans then enjoyed the hour or so ride from Uttoxeter through the east Staffordshire countryside to the Blythe Bridge area, When all the regular passengers got off we moved to the front and chatted to the driver. We did the bus to Catchems Corner and then Matthew got another picture of this bus.

PAG 512A at Catchems Corner

We then crossed over the road and waited for the #6 to Meir. The bus was due around 14:20 and due in Meir at 14:26. The bus turned up slightly late, probably due to the roadworks in Blythe Bridge at the moment. It was dud First Potteries 61239.

First Potteries 61239 at Blythe Bridge

As he bus pulled away I thought we could always get off by Tesco, but the bus takes a different route in the week than it does on Sundays, so it went around the roundabout and onto the A50! I was a little bit panicked at this point thinking we might miss the bus in Meir, When we arrived we hadn't seen it turn across us, so it probably hadn't got there yet. We jumped straight off 61239 and trooted across the road to the stop on the opposite side of Broadway. 60073 was parked up at the stop awaiting time before returning back to Hanley. We asked a lady if she had seen the X50 and she hadn't. We only had to wait a minute or so and the bus appeared up the ramp as expected required Wardle Transport 4895.

Wardle Transport 4895 at Meir

We then had a 30 minute journey back to Uttoxeter on the top deck of this express service. The slower bit of the journey goes through Meir Heath. We passed 4776 on the run back down the hill, meaning we should have required 4777 later on. The bus then goes back across the A50 to Blythe Bridge and then back onto the A50 from the other side. The bus then storms the 8 or so miles Eastwards to the edge of Uttoxeter, before doing the last mile or so from the JCB the lower saloon of the bus.

Inside 4895

factory on the side road. The plan now was to do a circuit of the #4 town bus service and then catch the #1 to Sudbury to meet the 15:15 from Derby. When we got into Uttoxeter bus station the #4 was already I the bus station, and so we got off the Wardle double decker and filed off into the queue for the town service, which was required Arriva Midlands 2217 which we saw last week. We booked to the midpoint an when we reached there I got up to book the return tickets back to town. As the bus returned into town Matthew got a picture of the empty bus.

Inside Arriva Midlands 2217

When we got back the plan was to do the #1 to Sudbury which was required 2136. Matthew had seen another bus which I thought was either spare or on Layover, which was Arriva Midland 2288.

Arriva Midlands 2288 in Uttoxeter

2288 left the bus station and despite telling Matthew it was 2136 or wait 30 minutes for the bus home, Matthew decided to wait. The Trent Barton Swift service came in, which was 737. He also wanted to do that and I told him he couldn't because we couldn't get back Home. A few minutes later 2288 reappeared and went on stand to work the #402 to Burton. When I was researching this trip i had considered possibly doing this bus to the railway station but the return service didn't seem to stop at the station. Matthew wanted to do 2288 but we didn't have any way of getting back so I called mum to see if she could give us a lift. As we got off Matthew got a good picture of the bus.

2288 by Uttoxeter railway station

As we waited for a lift back We looked at the timetable and it also appeared that the return service didn't stop at the station. I decided it would be a good idea for us to walk up the ramp to the main road to make it easier for mum to find us. As we walked up we saw a bus heading our way so we ran back to the bus stop. The bus was required Arriva Midlands 2242.

Arriva Midlands 2242 by the railway station

As we traveled back into town I called mum to tell her we had got a bus afterall. She wasn't best pleased with me! So we got back to the bus station around 15:50 and we had around 15 minutes to wait for the X50 back homewards. Mathew had gotten a picure of he inside of 2242 as we got off.

Inside 2242

The first bus in was the Derby bound bus which we had ridden on last week 4776.

Wardle Transport 4776 in Uttoxeter

then our bus appeared and it was as predicted Wardle 4777. Matthew got a picture before we boarded. 2242 then got ready to do the #428 Lichfield service.

Wardle Transport 4777 in Uttoxeter

We texted mum to let her know we were on our way homewards, so she could drive to the other end to meet us. The journey back was fast.We saw Wardle 2407 on a #7 in Meir. We got into Fenton,passing 61555 on a Hanley bound #26. Around 16:50, we got off Matthew got another picture of 4777.

4777 in Fenton

It was then back to the car for sausage rolls and then driving home. We got into the house around 17:00...Mark.