Trip to the Snowdome 22-04-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
W187 RRE	Heron Cross	John Street, Hanley	Charter	Z Carz
FJ10 BJX	John Street, Hanley	Snowdome, Tamworth	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Snowdome, Tamworth	John Street, Hanley	Charter	Aiming High
T131 SGA	John Street, Hanley	Heron Cross	Charter	Z Carz

Today Matthew was in respite, but he had also been accepted to go on a trip to the Snowdone with Aiming High. We made arrangements for them to take him to Hanley. In Heron Cross Z carz W187 RRE arrived. A step entranced minicoach with 20 seats. It had a very nice interior, it even had a radio! Matthew would have set off around 09:30 to get to Hanley at 10:00. he had Z carz W187 RRE to Hanley. Scraggs 42 step Entranced minibus 42 was on the #16 to Leek. This was a bus he had been on before when it worked his college transport. In Hanley we saw First Potteries 60011 heading into town. Matthew transfered on Aiming High FJ10 BJX, another bus that he has been on before. He got a picture before he got on.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in John Street, Hanley

In Hanley was Acton Coaches BXI 33 drove to Shelton. According Matthew the route they took to the Snowdome was through Shelton was Acton Coaches BXI 33 to going Blackpool onto the A500 to Hanford and then on the A34 towards Stone. South of Stone they got onto the A51 and then went through Lichfield to the A5. Matthew saw Arriva Midlands 3728 in Cannock on a #74 service. They stopped for fuel at the Colwich filling station.Harvest Energy. Londis shop for Coca Cola and mint Aero for a snack. They got back on minibus. They then did the short distance into Tamworth and to the Snowdome. They would have arrived just after 11:00. Matthew had a great time on the Snow in Tamworth. He went to the snowplay section of the Snowdome. They also did some ice skating. They also visited Starbucks Coffee lounge for a drink and a cake. Aterward on the way home, we saw the coach Dudleys M750 VYB on the tiny little screen at the front of the coach. we saw Watts Coaches M677 KVU too. we saw Edwards coaches LUI 7923 aswell. He returned back on FJ10 BJX, via Cannock, A5 and then onto the M6. They got back in Hanley around 16:00 where Z Carz T131 SGA was waiting. there are 24 seats in this bus. Someone came to meet him in Hanley where he transfered onto Z Carz T131 SGA inside of this bus again to go back to Heron Cross. He was back in respite by around 16:30 where he had his tea...Mark

Trip to Smallthorne 24-09-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40159	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Hanley BS	23A	First Potteries
185	Hanley BS	Smallthorne, Hadfield Green (adj)	9	Bakerbus
60011	Smallthorne, Hadfield Green (adj)	Hanley BS	29	First Potteries
BK10 MGV	Hanley BS	Preston Street (Opp)	9	Bakerbus
186	Preston Street (adj)	Hanley BS	9	Bakerbus
60201	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	34	First Potteries
40137	Newcastle BS	Tunstall, Highgate (opp)	99	First Potteries
40147	Tunstall, Woodland Street stop C	Longport, Longport Road (adj)	99	First Potteries

Today we decided to do a local trip, with the main intention of trying to get a ride on the Bakerbus loaned double deckers before they return home. During the week these usual work the X1 service, but lately on Saturdays they have turned out on the #9 service. I purchased a 'Smart Day' from a local shop and then we walked all the way up to the Ladybank Grove stop to wait for a Hanley bus. After a very short wait 40159 rounded the corner. We have not been on this bus for a long time and such it had been recorded in his list.


40159 in Blurton on a 23A (Matt)

The bus was empty when we got on and so Matthew got his empty shot straight away!


Inside 40159 (Matt)

The journey to Hanley was quiet and uneventful and when we reached Hanley We went up onto the balcony to assess the situation. there was one of the bakerbus double deckers parked up but it was not being used at the time. I went to the travel office to get some timetables. The small office with all the timetables was closed, so I was only able to pick up some First Timetables. On the way back I checked the times of the #9's and #61's. There was a #9 due off at 13:40 and it was already on stand. The bus was Bakerbus 185 and it was required.


Bakerbus 185 in Hanley on a #9 service (Matt)

We decided to do this to Smallthorne in the hope of getting on the return service. As we got off Bakerbus 196 was on the opposite side of the road pulling off! Matthew got another picture of 185 as it was about to pull off.


185 in Smallthorne (Matt)

We crossed the road and I used the text service to find out the next bus. The next bus was going to be a First #29 in about 3 minutes. Almost as soon as I had texted, 60011 rounded the corner. This was not required, but as this bus has been out of service and was nearly withdrawn it was an interesting one.


60011 in Smallthorne (Matt)

The bus was sounding a little rough, and one of the window seals had blown, but we have have seen and heard much worse! As we turned into Hanley bus station we expected to see 196 on stand, but this had been replaced by the double decker! We quickly transferred from one to the other as they were only a couple of stands apart. We got on and this time booked to the top of smallthorne so we could catch a #9 back. We went upstairs and were the only people on the top deck. At this point Matthew got a picture of the empty bus.


Inside demonstrator BK10 MGV (Matt)

The journey was very smooth and quiet expect for Matthew making a noise. As we got off Matthew was able to get a picture of the bus.


BK10 MGV in Smallthorne (Matt)

We crossed the road eventually having fought our way through the busy traffic. After a very short while bakerbus 186 rounded the corner. Not a double decker but still required.



Bakerbus 186 in Smallthorne (Matt)

We did this back to Hanley and when we arrived Matthew took a picture of the empty interior.


Inside 186 (Matt)

At this point we decided to have a break from the buses and eat some chips. I went down to Tony's place and got 2 portions of chips which we promptly finished off. As we were eating step entranced Wardle Transport Dennis Dart 2038 arrived and I hought we were going to catch this but Matthew changed his mind.


Wardle Transport 2038 on a service #61 (Matt)

He directed us towards required 60072 on a #34A. By the time we got down to it it pulled away so Matthew decided he want to do unrequired 60201 on the following #34.


60201 on a #34 in Hanley bus station (Matt)

we did the bus to Newcastle and at this point he decided to misbehave a little. We decided to do required 40137. This Ex Chester bus is the last of the batch allocated locally that he needed.


40137 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

on the way out of town we passed Bakerbus 215 on a #94A service. We did the bus to Tunstall at which point he was able to get another picture of these beast.


40137 in Tunstall (Matt)

After that we had a few minutes in Tunstall High street. The following service on the same corridor was worked by ALX200 40142.


40142 in Tunstall (Matt)

With 40137 already head back towards Newcastle, the next bus back was likely to be another ALX Dart and indeed it was. required 40147 appeared.


40147 in Tunstall (Matt)

At this point we formulated a plan to get home. We called mum to meet us at the BP garage in Longport so we could be picked up and we could also pick up some LPG at the same time. When we alighted from the bus in Longport, Matthew got another picture.


40147 in Longport (Matt)

We saw another couple of buses whilst we waited. 40148 was heading away from Newcastle and 40151 was heading towards Newcastle. we also saw Wardle Transport 2410 on a Britannia stadium shuttle. When mum arrived we filled up with LPG and then headed home. We got caught slightly in football traffic and saw 40007 doing #22's. also seen was Bakerbus 163 on #350's. not a bad day out today, made better with 43437, a well fought draw with Manchester United afterwards...Mark

Trip on the last Sunday #164 10-07-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40373	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Stoke railway station	23	First Potteries
61143	Signal Radio, Stoke Road	Campbell Place, Stoke	21	First Potteries
66845	Church Street, Stoke	Newcastle bus station	25	First Potteries
2902	Newcastle bus station	Hanley bus station	164	Arriva Midlands
61556	Hanley bus station	Longton transport interchange	6B	First Potteries

As Matthew hadn't been out much this month and today was the last running of the Sunday 164, I decided to take him out today to try and get a ride on this service. The original plan was to catch the 14:00 Newcastle - Longton #22 bus to Longton, catch a 6B to Hanley in order to meet the 164 in Hanley bus station. The bus was due through Blurton at 14:22 so we set off to the bus stop on Trentham Road just before 14:10. After waiting for 25 minutes for this bus, we had to assume that this bus had broken down or the driver was unable to complete this turn. So we followed the route through Blurton to the Ladybank Grove stop. the next #23 bus was due at 14:54 so we waited here for the Hanley bus. As we waited it started to rain so the coats cam out of the bag. The #23 turned up at around 15:00 with dud 40373 for power.


40373 in Blurton on the #23 to Hanley (Matt)

At this point the #22 still hadn't come past in either direction so I can only assume that this leg of the diagram did not run. The reason the #23 was running late is because there was a young girl trying to dodge paying her fare. As her mother got off the bus the young girl miraculously found her ticket, which must have been a 'week student' ticket. When asked to produce a student cards she couldn't. The mum came back on to the bus to see if there was a problem and the driver ascertained that the ticket belonged to her. The younger girl was asked to pay the fare of get off the bus! As a result of this action the bus was 10 minutes late when it left Ladybank Grove. Our plan B was to got to Stoke station (15:12) and to pick up the 164 outside Signal Radio (15:20). As we got off the bus matthew took a quick picture.


40373 outside Stoke railway station (Matt)

We jogged the 400 or so yards to the Signal Radio stop on Stoke Road. As the bus had been made late by the fare dodger we weren't able to make this bus. We saw 40022 on a 21A and we let this go, hoping that the #164 still might turn up. it soon came apparent that we had definitely missed the bus so I used the '84268' system to find the next bus time. There was a #21 at 15:46. I thought that this might make the #22 in Trent Vale, which we could catch up to Newcastle (we'll call this plan 'C'...). The bus turned up and it was ex Chester 61143 which was required.


61143 outside Signal Radio (Matt)

When the bus stopped at the lights over the A500 it vibrated quite a bit! As this bus was also a couple of minutes late, and it was also a bit shaky, I decide to get off in stoke to head towards Newcastle from there. With service #25, #26 and #41, there bound to be something to get us up to Newcaslte for 16:50. When we got off I consulted to bus stop timetables. there was a #25 at 16:22 which should get us to Newcastle with plenty of time to meet the 164 (Plan 'D'). Whilst we waited we were able to take some pictures.


60063 on a Hanley bound #26 (Matt)


D&G 91 on a #41 to Hanley (Matt)

After around 20 minutes and a few buses later, required 66845 turned up on the #25...


First Potteries 66845 on a #25 to Keele (Matt)

When we got to Newcastle we saw Scraggs 80 on the 16:30 to Longtom. It would seem that plan 'D' actually worked and we would finally catch up with the #164. Matthew then got another picture of 66845.


66845 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

We also saw 40019 on the #72 Clayton and then D&G 41 on the #85 Crewe service...


D&G 41 on #85 Crewe (Matt)

Another bus we saw whilst waiting was D&G 106 on the 94A to Audley.


D&G 106 on a #94A to Audley (Matt)

Shortly after that we eventually saw what we had been waiting for. Arriva Midlands 2902 on the last Northbound Sunday #164 service.


Last Northbound #164; 2902 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

As we got on Matthew tried to do something that he shouldn't and nearly got us in to trouble. Luckily the driver ignored his bad behaviour. When we got to Hanley he tried to do the same thing again! needless to say he won't be going on a Arriva Midlands bus in Hanley on a Sunday again (unless the timetable changes...). When we got off we were able to take another picture of this beast.


Last Southbound #164; 2902 in Hanley bus station (Matt)

At this point i gave Matthew a choice of a few buses he could catch. he could have done a 21A to Trentham, a #25 to stoke or a 6B to Longton. Matthew choice to do 61556 on the 6B. We left the balcony and waited for the driver to return to this bus.


61556 on a #6B to Blythe Bridge (Matt)

At Longton we were able to get a few more pictures before mum picked us up. 60011 was on a #26...


60011 on a #26 (Matt)

We got another picture of ex Chester 61556...


61556 continues to Blythe Bridge (Matt)

Another ex Chester bus also turned up which Matthew got a picture of...


61554 in Longton transport interchange (Matt)

Also old-school Scania 60073 starting to look it's age...


60073 in Longton transport interchange (Matt)

Shortly after this mum turned up to rescue us. We went home and had Pizza for tea... Mark