Trip to Hanley / Tunstall 09-11-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
42892	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Newcastle BS	22	First Potteries
37158	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	25	First Potteries
254	Hanley BS	Tunstall, adj stop M	20	Bakerbus
3615	Tunstall, adj stop A	Bradeley, opp Crediton Avenue	91	Wardle Transport
4802	Bradeley, opp Moorland View	Hanley, adj stop J1	19	Wardle Transport

Today we decided to stay locally as mum had thing to do later. No research was done except to check the weather. and this was for a bright sunny day. It was quite cold as we headed into winter with a maximum temperature of 8' predicted. Matthew got up early for a Saturday at around 09:00. I had been out to check what buses were on the #22's so we would know what was out before we set off. First Potteries 42892/894 were both out and required, the other bus being dud First Potteries 40016. Also seen were First Potteries 40003/375/42726/727 on #23's and Wardle Transport 3616/4813 were out on the #46. I then went to pick up uncle Dave. I headed through Blurton into Heron Cross and then into Fenton. After picking up uncle Dave I returned back through Heron Cross passing First Potteries 42726 on a 23A and we then carried on into Blurton. We worked out that if we wanted to go get required First Potteries 42892 we would have to got out to get the 12:20 from Longton to Newcastle. We left the house around 12:20 and we headed to the bus stop. As expected we saw First potteries 42894 heading into Longton just before our bus was due. I flagged it down for a neighbour who was 100yds away from the stop when the bus appeared. Around 13:32 as expected required 42892 rounded the corner and we flagged it down.

First Potteries 42892 in Blurton

We got on and booked a Smart Day ticket before sitting down near the back of the bus. We headed out onto The A5035 and into Trentham. We passed First Potteries 40155 on the #21A. We turned into New Inn Lane and we passed Trentham bound 61238 on the #21. We headed through Hanford and down Church Lane onto the A34. Here we passed First Potteries 40016 on the 3rd #22 turn. We went through Trent Vale and we headed towards the Hospital along Harpfields Road. We passed through the hospital and back onto the A34. We then headed into Newcastle and into the bus station. When we got to the bus station we let the bus empty and Matthew got a picture inside First Potteries 42892.

Inside First Potteries 42892

When we got into the bus station we saw First Potteries 37158 on the next #25 to Hanley. We decided tho have a quick walk around to see what was about. First Potteries 32633 was heading towards Keele on a #25.

First Potteries 32633 in Newcastle bus station

Wardle Transport 3615 was parked up in between #91 duties. First Potteries 65732 was on a #34 turn and Wardle Transport 4806 on the next #91 to Bradeley.

Wardle Transport 4806 in Newcastle bus station

We also saw D&G 129 on the Crewe bound #85 and D&G 173 on the Hanley bound #85. We decided to have a run on required 37158 on the #25 to Hanley. Once in Hanley we could go get chips! Matthew took a picture of First Potteries 37158 and then we got on it.

First Potteries 37158 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. The bus was quite full so matthew sat with uncle Dave and I sat on my own a few seats away. The bus left Newcastle on the A53 and then onto George Street. The bus then headed though Hartsill. We headed into Stoke passing 37160 & 37156 on #25's. Having been buses that once did the very intense X1 service, I expected the batch of B7TL's from East Anglia to be worn out. 37158 seemed a very nice bus and seemed to be in tip top condition. We carried on through Stoke and past the railway station. Here we passed Wardle Transport 4895 on the X50 to Derby. We carried on through Shelton and into Hanley. When we reached the bus station we let the bus empty out and Matthew got a picture inside First Potteries 37158.

Inside First Potteries 37158

We got off the bus and we headed to the toilets. After using the facilities we walked down to the chip shop on Cheapside. After getting the chips we headed to John Street multi-storey car park to watch buses whilst we ate our chips. Matthew washed his chips down with a can of Ben Shaw's dandelion and burdock. We then took a few bus pictures. A recent transfer from Wardle Transport to Scraggs was required Optare Solo YJ54 BSX.

Scraggs YJ54 BSX in Hanley bus station

The bus still has it's old Wardle Transport fleet number on it (2545). We also saw First Potteries 40028 on a #8B to Brown Edge

First Potteries 40028 in Hanley bus station

Seen in the layover area of the bus station was required First Potteries 41522.

First Potteries 41522 in Hanley bus station

Other sightings of interest were First Potteries 40173 on the #23A to Blurton, Bakerbus 205 on the X5, Bakerbus 194 was on the #2 to Bentilee. Wardle Transport 4808 was on the #19 to Bradeley. We decided to walk down to the bus station to see what we could catch out of Hanley. We spent around 15 minutes waiting for something interesting to do and then we decided to do a Bakerbus on the #20 up to Tunstall. Matthew was probably thinking of last time we did this and got a cake in the cafe by the bus stop! We had turned down required First Potteries 32633 on a #20A and we were considering doing dud First Potteries 65729 on the next #20 to Crewe. The bus station was incredibly busy and buses were going on stands all over the place. When our bus was due off we saw it take two laps of the bus station just a get a stand nearby where it supposed to be! It turned out to be required Bakerbus 254, which was our first Bakerbus Streetlite we were about to ride on.

Bakerbus 254 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and as it was empty Matthew got a picture inside Bakerbus 254 straight away.

Inside Bakerbus 254

We sat down near the back of the bus and the bus set off out of town. We headed down Albion Street and the onto marsh Street. We then headed up Trinity Street and onto Stafford Street. The bus only had 5 passengers on it as we left hanley and headed up towards Burslem. We got up to the bus lane and then we made better progress. When we reached Tunstall we got off and behind us was our last required First Potteries MPD 43875 heading up to Biddulph on the #99.

First Potteries 43875 in Tunstall

We walked down the street to the cafe and Matthew went to use their toilet. Afterwards he had a piece of toffee cheesecake washed down with a glass of orange Tango. After he had finished we went outside and we saw required First Potteries 37159 on the #99 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 37159 in Tunstall

Behind this was required Wardle Transport 4896 on the #91 to Newcastle. This is our last required Trident from this batch and once again Matthew turned it down because it was going in the wrong direction!

Wardle Transport 4896 in Tunstall

The next #91 to Bradley was required Wardle Transport 3615.

Wardle Transport 3615 in Tunstall

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this and he said yes. This was the first bus from this batch of 4 Volvo B10's that had arrived from Arriva Yorkshire a few months ago. We got on the bus and booked to Bradeley village. The bus set off and we headed down through Pitts Hill and up over High Lane to Fegg Hayes. The bus went through Chell Heath and into the estate before heading towards Bradeley. We decided to get off on the main road and not go to Bradeley village so that we had a choice of buses. The bus was empty at this point so Matthew got a picture inside Wardle Transport 3615.

Inside Wardle Transport 3615

We got off the bus and Matthew got another picture of this fine beast.

Wardle Transport 3615 in Bradeley

We did a check on nextbuses.mobi to see what was due. There was a #9 at 16:18 and a #19 at 16:31. We saw Bakerbus 268 heading the other way on a #9 to Biddulph. Having not seen a #29 on the site we didn't know if it still ran. So we were taken by surprise when First Potteries 60079 made an appearance.

First Potteries 60079 in Bradeley

We turned it down as I thought it was a dud bus. It turned out that First Potteries 60079 was required! Next bakerbus 247 appeared almost silently...

Bakerbus 247 in Bradeley

It was a required bus as we have only ever been on one of these hybrids albeit several times. We turned it down as we were hoping for something more interesting on the #19. We saw the #19 heading the other way and it was required Wardle Transport 4802. Whilst we waited for it to return another First bus made an appearance on the #29. It was dud First Potteries 61553. A few minutes later we saw Wardle Transport heading down Moorland View from Bradeley village. The bus turned the corner and we got on the bus.

Wardle Transport 4802 in Bradeley

We went upstairs and Matthew took a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside Wardle Transport 4802

The bus headed towards Smallthorne and then turned onto Ford Green Road. We turned left onto Community drive and then we worked our way across to the A53. We crossed the A53 and we headed up Milton Road passing Wardle Transport 4808 on a #19 and also First Potteries 40155 on a #18 to Leek. We headed into Hanley and we got off the bus at the top of John Street. We crossed over the road and went into the car park to meet mum who was waiting for us. matthew had a sausage roll followed by a Manchester Tart. We drove out of Hanley down Lichfield Street and across Joiners Square to Victoria Road. We did the A50 link road and then onto the A50 to Longton so we could check out what was parked up at Z Carz today. There were only 3 buses parked on the spare ground. These were Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

Next to this was another Mercedes with a different body style, Z Carz W221 CDN.

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

Lastly was another Mercedes minibus, M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

We turned into Willow Row to see if there was anything in the yard. LDV minibus T408 JUX, which hasn't moved for a month or two appeared to be receiving some attention. We headed back onto the A50 and we did this up to Heron Cross. We then went through Blurton. We got home around 17:30. For tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a toffee yoghurt. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime...Mark

Trip to Hanley / Biddulph 28-08-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2302	Blurton, adj Ladybank Grove	Hanley BS	46	Wardle Transprt
30031	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	34A	First Potteries
34285	Newcastle BS	Pennine way, Biddulph	99	First Potteries
34285	Pennine way, Biddulph	Biddulph BS	99	First Potteries
267	Biddulph BS	Northwood, adj Providence Square	9	Bakerbus

Today we decided to go out and catch a few buses locally to see if there was anything interesting about. I had ben t work and seen a few of the local turns. Matthew got up around 09:00 and had some toast an orange juice. I came home from work just before 13:00 and I had viewed what was going to be working the 1315 to Hanley #46 and the 13;17 to Newcastle #22. I quickly got ready and we set off just after 13:00. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do Wardle Transport 2302 to Hanley on the #46 or First Potteries 40145 on the #22 to Newcastle. Matthew chose to do Wardle Transport 2302. We waited a few minutes and then the bus turned up.

Wardle Transport 2302 in Blurton

It turned out we needed Wardle Transport 2302! We got on and it was empty so Matthew got a picture inside of the bus too.

Inside Wardle Transport 2302

We sat own near the back and the bus set off. This was our first time we had done the new #46 service. We passed First Potteries solo 53155 in Blurton and then turned up Longton Hall Road. The bus went into Longton interchange and whilst we were there we saw Wardle Transport 2038 on a #46 going towards Blurton and wardle Transport 4802 on a X50 to Derby. We did the diversion around King Street railway bridge, passed the Crown Hotel and joined back onto King street near the Foley Arms pub. We carried on down City Road and then along Leek Road to the railway station. We then went up College Road and into Hanley. At the bus station we decided t visit the toilet and then to go get something to eat. As we were leaving the the bus station we saw First Potteries 34286 arrive into the bus station. We decided to go and wait for it to come out and get a picture before we carried on to get something to eat. As we went up towards the entrance of the bus station we saw required First Potteries Dart 40173, now the last Dart of this batch in service with First Potteries.

First Potteries 40173 near Hanley bus station

Right behind this was one of Bakerbus' new deckers 267.

Bakerbus 267 near Hanley bus station

We stood on the corner for a couple of minutes to wait for 34286 to depart from the bus station. Eventually it appeared and it was working a #20A to Talke Pits.

First Potteries 34286 in Hanley bus station

We walked past The Victoria theater and the town hall and went to The Seafarer chip shop. We had a portion of chips between us and 2 cans of pop. Today we decided to take the food back to John Street car park rather than eat at a bench and then go to the car park. We ate our chips and Matthew drank his can of dandelion and burdock. We saw Bakerbus loan vehicle AE09 DJK and Wardle Transport 4891 which was on a #19 service.

Wardle Transport 4891 in Hanley bus station

We put our rubbish in our trip bag and continued taking a few pictures. Then required First Potteries 30031 made an appearance!

First Potteries 30031 entering Hanley bus station

We decided to run to the bus station to see if we could make it the 400 yards or so into the terminal before the bus left. It took us a couple f minutes to get there and negotiate the crowds in and around the bus station. When we got there the bus was loading and was on a #34A to Talke Pits. We booked to Talke Pits and we went upstairs. There were people on the bus so he didn't get a picture inside. As we traveled down towards Festival Park it did occur it me that we would probably pass First Potteries 34286 coming the other way at so point so there might be a move on. We looped around Festival Park and onto the A53 towards Newcastle. After traveling up and over the hill in Basford we headed down into Newcastle town and bus station. As we entered the bus statin we saw dud First Potteries 30033 on layover which was probably working the X39, We also saw another step entranced double decker. As we got closer we saw it was required 34285! We didn't know what it was working as we couldn't read the dot matrix display from an angle. I asked Matthew if he wanted to get off and try and catch the bus and he said yes. We negotiated the crowds in the bus station and we saw the bus was having a driver change. We also noted that it was on the #99 to Biddulph. We both got a picture of this bus as we waited for the driver to ready the bus for service.

First Potteries 34285 in Newcastle bus station

When the bus was ready we got on and sat upstairs. The bus set off just after 15:00 and we headed out of Newcastle towards Wolstanton. At the top of Porthill we turned right down the hill towards Longport. We headed into Tunstall, and after we passed through Tunstall we went down Queens Avenue and into the Mill Hill estate. We turned left onto High Lane and then at the roundabout we turned right towards Fegg Hayes were we saw Bakers coaches 4 & 7 (3601 RU and 1513 RU). We then made the climb towards Biddulph. We went through Brindley Ford and straight up to to the crossroads an Knypersley, where we turned right. We went around the estate and then into town. I was expecting the bus to go into the bus station such as it is, but after the bus left the High Street we passed nearby the bus station and into a housing estate North East of the town. We went along Pennine way which must the terminus of the service and then headed back into town. In this direction the bus serves the bus station so we got up and rang the bell. As we got up Matthew got a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside First Potteries 34285

We got off the bus. Bakerbus 180 was at the bus station working a #99 service. We then we went to the toilet. We sat down and had a drink of Coke and waited for a bus. There were 2 buses back towards Hanley due just after 16:00. There was 7A First Potteries at 16:13 and then a Bakerbus #9 at 16:20. The #9 arrived first and it was required Bakerbus 267. Right behind this was required Bakerbus 250 on a #99 service to Macclesfield.

Bakerbus 250 in Biddulph bus station

Matthew had a quick look at the bus and then he went to the driver to ask him if we could go on the bus and have a look inside. The driver let us on and we had a look inside this fine Dart. Matthew got a picture and we got off again.

Inside Bakerbus 250

We said thank you to the driver and then we went to wait for the bus and sat at the stop. We had seen dud First Potteries 61239 on the #7A, we had also seen Bakerbus 186 on a #94A to Newcastle. Just before 16:20 Bakerbus 267 pulled up towards the bus stop and Matthew got a picture.

Bakerbus 267 in Biddulph bus station

As we got on the bus we went upstairs It was empty so at the back so Matthew got a picture inside the bus.

Inside Bakerbus 267

The bus set off back around the main estate and towards Brown Lees. I called mum to arrange to meet on the edge of Hanley. We joined back onto the A527 near to the Bakerbus depot and then headed down through Brindley Ford. We then headed down to Fegg Hayes. We turned right and went through Chell Heath. At Bradley we passed step entranced Volvo B6 227 and then we traveled through Smallthorne and onto High Lane. We headed towards Hanley and we got up when we reached the triangular Providence Square. We got off and Matthew got a picture off 267 as it headed off into Hanley passing Bakerbus 268 on the Northbound #9.

Bakerbus 267 near Hanley

Mum was waiting on Merrick Street and we walked over to her. We headed hoe via Northwood, Limekiln Bank, Leek Road and then passed the Co-op we went straight at joiners square and went straight onto City Road. We turned right under the railway bridge and then passing Wardle Transport 2217 on a #41 service. We joined the Southbound A500 and then did the A50 up to Stanley Matthew Way. At the end of Stanley Matthews way we stopped at the chip shop to pick up tea. We got home around 17:40 and Matthew ate his sausage, chips and gravy. Matthew chilled out n his computer and I set off to the football around 18:50. around 20:30 mum and Matthew went to take uncle Dave home. They stayed at uncle Daves and I walked down to meet them after the match, getting pictures of Wardle Transport 3615,4802,4891 & 4895 on support shuttle buses. Just after 22:00 we all went home via Heron cross and Blurton. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Keele / Biddulph 20-07-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40143	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Newcastle BS	22	First Potteries
30033	Newcastle BS	Keele village	25	First Potteries
37	Keele village, nr Sneyd Arms	Hanley BS	85	D&G
227	Hanley BS	Smallthorne, opp Preston Street	9	Bakerbus
53208	Smallthorne, adj Nettlebank	Hanley BS	8	First Potteries
266	Hanley BS	Biddulph, adj South View	9	Bakerbus
61235	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries

Today we decided to have a local trip out. We had asked Matthew if he wanted to ride on the #350 service as this is coming to an end soon and he said no to this. Instead we planned to go to Newcastle and see what was about. We did no research for this trip other than to check the weather, which was for another fine sunny hot day. We did find out that you can now use the smart day tickets on Bennetts buses now. Matthew got up around 09:00 today, and h had toast and orange juice for breakfast. I went to fetch uncle Dave and we got back just after 11:00. We quickly finished off getting ready and then we waled all the way to the stop on Magdalen Road to wait for the 11:30 #22 bus to Newcastle. We didn't have to wait long before we saw an ALX200 dart come around the corner. It was dud First Potteries 40143.

First Potteries 40143 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked a Smart Day ticket. We then sat down near the back of the bus. It was reasonably cool for a Dart on a hot summers day. The bus went onto Trentham Road and then along New Inn Lane. On the run in we passed 60057 & 60059 on #21's, 40145 on a #22 and Wardle Transport 2204 on a #41. When we got to the roundabout at the bottom of Newcastle we could see a Leyland Olympian entering the bus station. We got into Newcastle bus station and pulled on stand just before 30033 pulled on stand on a #25 service. Matthew waited for the bus to empty and then he got a picture inside the empty 40143.

Inside First Potteries 40143

We ran over to 30033 and Matthew got a picture of that too.

First Potteries 30033 in Newcastle bus station

We asked the driver which direction the bus was going and t was going to Keele, so we booked to there. We went upstairs and sat down near the back. A minute or so later we set off towards Keele via Orme Road. The bus sounded pretty good for a vehicle approaching it's 24th birthday and it didn't seem to struggle up keele bank at all. We ran through the University campus dropping off most of the passengers and then we headed for the village terminus. When we got there Matthew took a picture of one of the original high backed seats with the grey and maroon zig-zag pattern.

Original Feature...Grey and Maroon seat in First Potteries 30033

He also took a picture of the empty top deck with the many different coloured seat patterns.

Inside First Potteries 30033

When we got off he took another picture of this fine beast before it set off back to Hanley.

First Potteries 30033 in Keele

Matthew wanted to do a #85 back to Hanley, like we had done on our last trip in this direction back in June. We checked the the and there wasn't one due for 20 minutes. So we decided to walk back to the original stop and have a picnic. We shared a galaxy caramel bar and Matthew drank a small bottle of Irn Bru. Before the 85 was due there was another #25. This was required First Potteries 32632.

First Potteries 32632 in Keele

The bus was now due so we crossed back over to wait for the bus. When it turned up it was required D&G Solo 37.

D&G Bus 37 in Keele

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. The journey back to Newcastle was swift. After going through the University the bus went straight down the A525 into Newcastle. We had a few minutes wait in Newcastle and then a couple of minutes wait in Stoke. As we headed up to Hanley from Stoke we passed an arriva Liveried double decker on the X50. This was Arriva Midlands 4802. When we got to Hanley we let the bus empty and Matthew photographed the inside of D&G 37 too.

Inside D&G Bus 37

When we got to Hanley we decided to go have something to eat. The burger place that we went to at the begining of June was closed so we decided to walk down to the Seafarer on cheapside. On the way down we saw a new Bakerbus vehicle, Ex Metroline double decker LR52 KWT with the Bakerbus fleet number of 266.

Bakerbus 266 enters Hanley bus station

We brought 2 portions of chips and 2 cans of pop and we sat down on the benches near to the Museum and the at the back of the Bethesda Methodist church at the bottom of Adventure Place. We ate the chips and Matthew even drank the can of Coke there and then it was that hot. We walked back via Bethesda Street and Lidice Way we spotted 40003 on a #21A service. W decided to go and stand in John Street car park so we could watch and photograph the buses coming into and leaving Hanley bus station. Bakerbus 185 was in the layover area and this was soon joined by Bakerbus 227. Then we saw Arriva Midlands 3733 on the #164 service to market Drayton.

Arriva Midlands 3733 in Hanley bus station

bakerbus 185 departed to work a #9 service and Bakerbus Dart 250 replaced it.

Bakerbus 250 in Hanley bus station

We also saw Bakerbus Alexander bodied Volvo B6 227 arrive into the bus station.

Bakerbus 227 in Hanley bus station

After around 30 minutes in the car park we decided to go to the bus station to see what we could catch. 40018 was going to Leek on a #18 but we decided not to do this as it was going to be full. We then saw Bakerbus 227 return onto stand to work a #9 short to Smallthorne. Matthew got a picture before we got on.

Bakerbus 227 in Hanley bus station

We have seen this bus work quite a few time before, but this is only our second run on this beast. The first time being on a journey from Macclesfield to Biddulph back in April. Smallthorne is only a short run so we arrived at the end in only 10 or so minutes. matthew got a picture of the bus before it set off towards the famous Smallthorne roundabouts.

Bakerbus 227 in Smallthorne

We crossed over the road and we were able to get another better picture of Bakerbus 227 as it set off back towards Hanley.

Bakerbus 227 in Smallthorne

We decided to go to the shop and get a chocolate bar and a drink. Matthew also decided to get a flapjack and as it was something relatively healthy I thought it would be OK. We sat down at the stop in the triangle at the top of Smallthorne so we could check when the next #98 was due and also so he could eat his flapjack. After eating the flapjack and seeing the next #98 wasn't for quite a few minutes we decided to go wait for a Hanley bus. I think Matthew fancied a run on on Bakerbus 250 but when we saw it heading North we knew that wasn't going to happen today! I thought he wanted to wait for the next #9, but when First Potteries 53208 turned up on the next #8 he decided he wanted to do that. He got on and decided he was going to honk the horn. We sat down and enjoyed the jouney into hanley. This bus appears to have been fitted with old seats from one of the withdrawn buses to replace the new non standard ones. When we got to Hanley Matthew took a picture inside the bus and the first coloured seats can be clearly seen,

Inside First Potteries 53208

He also got a picture of the outside of this bus too as his earlier attempt didn't go too well.

First Potteries 53208 in Hanley bus station

It was now just after 15:45 so we ad to decided what we were going to do. I thought he might like to do an X50 up to Meir for Arriva Midlands 4802 back. Matthew didn't really fancy it though. We got lottery tickets from the spar shop in the bus station along with some pop and chocolate. We had a quick trip along the side of the bus station to look at the buses on layover Of note were Bakerbus 199 and 215. Around 16:15 Wardle Transport 3611 arrived on the #118.

Wardle Transport 3611 in Hanley bus station

Matthew pointed to this but it wasn't due to leave until 16:45. We also saw Bakerbus Volvo B6 215 come and go on the X75 to Keele. When we saw Bakerbus's new decker arrive we decided to do this. It was required Bakerbus 266 couldn't get on stand due to the fact it was being blocked by a First bus on the #101 to Stafford. When it did gt on stand a few minutes late it could get off as other buses were being let out first. We had got on and sat upstairs and eventually the bus did depart. We set off through Smallthorne and passed his old school in Chell Heath. We carried on through Fegg Hayes, Brindley Ford, Brown Lees and Knypersley before dropping down into Biddulph around 17:00. Just before we arrived n town he took a picture of the empty top deck of Bakerbus 266.

Inside Bakerbus 266

We got off the bus on the high street and then walked down to Wharf Road, where he got another picture of this fine bus.

Bakerbus 266 in Biddulph bus station

There was some kind of event winding down. there was a giant sand pit and lots of children's rides in the bottom half of the High Street. I think Matthew wanted to have a go on some of the thing but he was too big! He did however have an ice cream with a flake. We walked back onto Wharf Road and Matthew used the toilet there. We let a Bakebus vehicle go on the #94A and then we decided to catch required First 61235 when he realised that mum wasn't available to pick him up from Biddulph.

First Potteries 61235 in Biddulph bus station

We got on and sat down near the back. The #7A takes the same route as the #9 as far as Fegg Hayes where it goes straight up onto high Lane and then straight along High Lane from Turnhurst into Hanley. We got back to Hanley in around 30 minutes where matthew took a picture inside 61235.

Inside First Potteries 61235

We asked Matthew if he wanted to catch a #23 or go in a taxi and Matthew chose to ride in a taxi. We did this home via Victoria Road, The A50 link road and then trough Heron Cross. Matthew wasn't very happy so we decided to drive him up to The Z Carz depot. When we got there there were only 2 buses present. The first was W221 CDN.

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

The other vehicle was DAF mini coach W344 WNS.

Z Carz W344 WNS in Longton

We headed down Longton Hall Road and we got home around 18:20. Matthew had a toffee yoghurt to keeping going until he had is late tea of bangers and mash. He then chilled out on his computer until bedtime which today was around 23:45...Mark