Trip to Fenton 30-10-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
DV10 JCU	Blurton	Fenton	Charter	Shelton Care Group
DV10 JCU	Fenton	Blurton	Charter	Shelton Care Group

Today Matthew was attending his day new service. It was also the first day of the new D&G bus service, 'The Orange One'... Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice. The bus turned up and it was his usual vehicle Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU.

Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU in Blurton

We set off through Blurton via Newbury Avenue and onto Finstock Avenue. We went through Blurton and Heron Cross. At the lights we carried on straight into Heron Street and onto Glebedale Road before reaching our destination. In the morning Matthew spent time in the sensory room. For dinner he had hot cheese oatcakes. In the afternoon we went on a walk to the local sports centre. We walked onto City Road and we carried on West for 1/4 of mile or so. Going the other way towards Longton was First Potteries 60128 on a #1 service.

First Potteries 60128 in Fenton

After a session in the swimmimg pool we walked back onto City Road. Outside Jack Ashley Court we saw D&G 111 going towards Newcastle on the new 'The orange One' service.

D&G 111 in Fenton

Further up the Road by the old Nat West bank, we saw First Potteries 60201 on a Newcastle bound #1 service.

First Potteries 60201 in Fenton

Around the corner on Christchurch Street we saw First Potteries 53209 on a #23 service to Hanley.

First Potteries 53209 in Fenton

We walked back to the day service building and then it was time to get the bus home. Once again it was Shelton Care Group DV10 JCU. We set off onto Christchurch Road and then onto Glebdale Road. We followed the road around the corner onto Heron Street and through Heron Cross. We carried on across the A50 and into Blurton getting home around 15:00. For tea Matthew had chicken and mash with carrots followed by cheesecake. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 23:30... 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 to renew the bus pass 03-06-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40373	Church Street, Stoke	Hanley BS	23A	First PMT
60201	Hanley BS	The Avenue, Kidsgrove	34A	First PMT

Matthew's bus pass ran out yesterday, so we planned on renewing the pass and possibly going somewhere with him. By the time Matthew had got up and dressed today, we had ruled out going anywhere distant. First we took him to have his hair cut (mum didn't want his new picture with long messy hair), and then we drove down to Stoke to visit the one stop shop. Paperwork shown and new photograph taken, five minutes later he had his new bus pass.

First thing to do was to have a late dinner, as he had only had two rounds of toast for a late breakfast. So we went to the Cafe across the road from the one stop shop. We managed to get a window seat and Matthew watched buses go by as he ate his dinner...



Scraggs Blue bus PUI 5558 in Church Street, Stoke (Matthew)


After dinner it was obvious to us that Matthew wasn't going to accept just picking up the bus pass and he wanted to ride. Having first told us that he wanted to do the 24 to Hanley, Matthew choose at 23A that was parked opposite awaiting time. Had he been more patient, he could have had step entranced D&G dart 31 towards Newcastle (L170 CKH), which we passed going up College Road.



Inside 40373 (Matthew)



40373 in Hanley bus station (Mark)

When we got to Hanley, I persuaded him to go up to the balcony whilst he thought about which bus he wanted to catch next. Unusually, there were two double deckers parked up (31518/9), a rare site in Hanley these days.



31519 in Hanley bus station (Mark)

When 60201 rolled into the bus station, Matthew decided he wanted to do this bus. It was on a 34A to Kidsgrove. I have never done this bus service throughout before, Hanley to Kidsgrove via Newcastle. What an epic journey! This run takes over an hour! It didn't help that it was boiling hot and bus kept stop to wait time. When the bus stops, the cooler air stops! Eventually around 17:00 we arrive in Kidsgrove...



60201 disappears into the distance (Matthew)



60205 in Kidsgrove (Matthew)

After we arrived in Kidsgrove, we walked the long way to the car park where mum was waiting

(Mark)