Trip to Talke / Trent Vale 02-01-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
53829	Blurton, adj Ladybank Grove	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
N8 GHA	Hanley BS	Talke, Opp Congleton Road	X81	GHA
66308	Talke, Adj Newcastle Road	Newcastle BS	4A	First Potteries
66310	Newcastle BS	Trent Vale, adj Black Lion BS	22	First Potteries

Today Matthew was off from his day service, so we decided to take this opportunity to ride on the X81 service. Matthew got up around 12:00. He has some toast and orange juice. I asked him if he wanted to do a few extra buses today and he said yes. We worked out what we were going to do and when we had to leave the house. We set off at around 13:40 and walked all the way to the bus on Beaconsfield Road. We saw First Potteries 66310 going towards Newcastle on the #22 and then First Potteries 60072 on the #22 to Dresden.

First Potteries 60072 in Blurton

Going towards Newstead on the #23A was First Potteries 53208.

First Potteries 53208 in Blurton

A few minutes later a Solo rounded the corner and it was dud First Potteries 53829.

First Potteries 53829 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked to Hanley. There was only one passenger on the bus at this point and they were sitting near to the front, so Matthew got a picture of the inside of First Potteries 53829 too.

Inside First Potteries 53829

The bus set off through Blurton and onto Blurton Road. We headed through heron Cross and onto Heron Street. On the corner by the railway line there was a smashed up car. We carried on and turned onto left onto Christchurch Street. We turned left onto City Road and then down under the railway line and into Stoke. After a brief pause in Stoke town centre we went around the one way system and onto Glebe Street. We went under the railway and turned left onto Station Road. By the railway station we passed First Potteries 41494 on a #3 service. We went up Cauldon Road and we passed Hind Street we saw GHA single decker N8 GHA parked up ready to the X81 later... We crossed the ring road and we entered the bus station via Bethesda Street and John Street. After using the toilet we realised that we had almost 30 minutes so there was time to go to the car park to take bus pictures. Matthew bumped into one of the staff members from his day service and we stopped to have a quick chat. We carried on towards the car park and as we crossed the road we saw Scraggs YJ59 GHH entering the bus station on the #50 from Longton.

Scraggs YJ59 GHH in Hanley bus station

We entered the car park and went upstairs. One of the first buses we saw was required First Potteries 40805 on the #7B to Biddulph.

First Potteries 40805 in Hanley bus station

This was followed dud (for Matthew) First Potteries 40029 on a #23A to Newstead.

First Potteries 40029 in Hanley bus station

We then saw required First Potteries 60174 running out of service.

First Potteries 60174 in Hanley bus station

We also saw Bakerbus 267 on a #9 to Biddulph.

Bakerbus 267 in Hanley bus station

Bakerbus service buses are soon to history as D&G are taking over these operations... We then saw First Potteries 37157 on a #3 to Madeley.

First Potteries 37157 in Hanley bus station

First Potteries route branded Scania 65001 was being used on it's correct route of #18 to Leek.

First Potteries 65001 in Hanley bus station

On a #16 to Leek was dud Wardle Transport 3601.

Wardle Transport 3601 in Hanley bus station

Wardle Transport 3601 is high mileage bus as we have had this from Sudbury to Fenton on the old X50 back in April 2014 just before the service finished. On a #3 to Newcastle was dud First Potteries 66838.

First Potteries 66838 in Hanley bus station

We had that bus last time on the 27th December. It was time to walk back to the bus station before the X81 arrived. We got back with a few minutes to spare. There was a reasonable crowd waiting to catch this service. When the bus arrived it was as expected GHA step entranced Volvo single decker N8 GHA.

GHA N8 GHA in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and booked to Talke. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off out of the bus station and onto the ring road. We went towards Festival Park and the onto the A53. At Basford we headed onto the Northbound A500. Matthew then took a picture inside N8 GHA.

Inside GHA N8 GHA

The bus carried on up the A500 and we came off at the A34. We then carried on North for another couple of miles or so until we got close the the Caudwell Tavern. We got up and got off the bus and we got another picture of GHA single decker N8 GHA before it carried on Northwards.

GHA N8 GHA in Talke

We had just under 20 minutes to wait for the next Newcastle bound #4A. We had just see a service going towards Kidsgrove so we waited for over bus in the sunshine. It was cold as it was about to go dark. Just before our bus came we saw First Potteries 66839 on a Kidsgrove bound bus.

First Potteries 66839 in Talke

A minute or so later we could see a Cherry branded bus at the bottom of the hill. As it got closer we saw it was required First Potteries 66308.

First Potteries 66308 in Talke

We got on the bus and booked to Newcastle before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off up the hill and we turned left into the housing estate. We came out on the High Street and as the people behind us got off Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of the bus.

Inside First Potteries 66308

the bus carried on down the High Street and we then turned right and diverted into the Freeport before carrying on South. We crossed the A500 and we headed into Red Street. We continued South into Chesterton and then we turned left onto Wolstanton Road before we turned right onto the A34. We went South past the depot where we could see First Potteries 34311 and 30031 parked up towards the back of the depot. We diverted onto Liverpool Road and then onto the Ryecroft before going down Barracks Road and turning into the bus station. We got off the bus and we saw required First Potteries 60069 on a #22 to Dresden. Not to worry, we were going to catch the 16:05 extra #22 that runs as far as Trentham Mondays to Fridays. Whilst we waited we took a few pictures. Between duties was dud Wardle Transport 2356,

Wardle Transport 2356 in Newcastle bus station

Also between duties was dud First Potteries 43877.

First Potteries 43877 in Newcastle bus station

On a #101 service was required First Potteries 65027.

First Potteries 65027 in Newcastle bus station

On a #3 was required First Potteries 66313.

First Potteries 66313 in Newcastle bus station

On the soon to be finished #33 service was Wardle Transport 2259.

Wardle Transport 2259 in Newcastle bus station

On a #164 from Market Drayton to Hanley was Arriva Midlands Optare Versa 3698.

Arriva Midlands 3698 in Newcastle bus station

I would appear that there was a Saturday service operating today as the 16:05 never came. At 16:10 the next bus came in and it was dud First Potteries 66310.

First Potteries 66310 in Newcastle bus station

After a driver change the bus loaded up and we booked to Trent Vale. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off out of the bus station onto barracks Road. We went South on the A34 before turning into the hospital. after traveling trough the hospital we came out onto Hilton Road and we did this forward onto Harpfields Road. At the other end of Harpfields road we re-joined the A34 and we got up and got off near to the pub. Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 66310 as it carried on towards Dresden.

First Potteries 66310 in Trent Vale

We met mum and Matthew had a brunch with bread and butter followed by toffee sponge pudding with ice cream. Whilst we ate the highlights of the passing buses was First Potteries double decker 32627 on a #101 to Hanley. After we had finished eating we called Uncle Dave and we went to pick him up. We drove along the A34 and onto the Northbound A500. We went East at the A50. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross and we dropped into Fenton. After we had picked up uncle Dave, we headed up to Heron Cross and through Blurton, getting home around 18:40. Matthew then chilled out watching bus videos and using his computer before bedtime around 00:00... Mark

Trip to Hanley / Leek 12-10-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
41500	Hanley BS	Leek BS	18	First Potteries
N880 AVV	Leek BS	Haregate	165	Clowes Coaches
N880 AVV	Haregate	Leek BS	165	Clowes Coaches
P403 MLA	Leek BS	Ashbourne BS	108	Aimée's

Today Matthew was in respite and was going to cover the Clowes Coaches 165 service. Matthew got up at around 09:30 today. He had breakfast of oatcakes and bacon and cheese and orange juice. we drove up to Hanley today. The route they took was along Dividy Road onto the A52. From there they went up into hanley via Bucknall New Road. we then went around Hanley and parked in the Tesco car park. we then walked over to the museum were we saw a few buses. 61145 was on a #7A service.

First Potteries 61145 in Hanley

Outside the museum we saw Wardle Transport 4813 on a #19 to Bradeley.

Wardle Transport 4813 in Hanley

First Potteries 40155 was on a #18 to Leek.

First Potteries 40155 in Hanley

we then went to the museum for a quick visit.

Hanley Museum

We used the disabled toilet, and after leaving the museum They went up to the bus station where we saw dud first Potteries 41500 on the #18 to Leek so we decided to do it from Birches Head to Hanley in the snow back in January 2013. We got on the bus and sat down. The bus left the bus station and went around town and then towards Towsend. The bus turned in Birches head and went down Milton Road and hen onto the A53. Th bus then carried on all the way up into Leek and then into the bus station. Whilst at thee bus station Matthew used the toilet and then we saw Clowes Coaches N880 AVV on the town circular service. we got on the bus and sat down. The bus left town on the A523 towards Ashbourne before turning into the Haregate estate. The bus returned through the town and then appeared on the A53 just outside of town. The bus turned at Morrison and then went up to Compton and into the bus station. We then walked to the Cafe for a late dinner. for dinner we had an English breakfast and a lemon meringue pie for afters. We then saw Aimmee's new arrival P403 MLA on the 108 so we decided to do it. We got on an sat down. Te bus left town on the A523 and out through Bottomhouse, after a couple of small diversions onto housing estates the bus got back on the A523 and continued on to Ashbourne. Here we were picked up and taken back to the respite place. We headed down the A515 until it met the A50, which we did back to Longton today. We went back to Bentilee past the Gladstone pottery Museum and up Anchor Road. He then had tea which was fish fingers and chips with beans followed by cake and custard. He then had a bath and chilled out in his room on his computer before bedtime at 00:00...Mark

Trip to Trent Vale 05-04-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40143	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today Matthew was due to go to Heathfield for a playscheme for most of today. He got up a little after 09:00. they left home around 10:00 and went onto the A5035 to the Hem Heath pub where they turned down Stanley Matthews Way. They went on the a50 and then onto the Northbound A500 up the A53. They did the A53 up to Sandbac Road and then went across Smallthorne Roundabouts and down Ford Green Road. They turned left onto Chell Heath Road. Matthew said goodbye to mum and then had a fun day of making cakes, eating ice cream and jelly as well as his packed lunch. I picked Matthew up at 15:00 and took him back a different route. We headed up onto High Lane passing Wardle Transport 2410 on the #61 to Hanley. We then went to Turnhurst and onto The A527 Tunstall by-pass which we did down to the A500. We did the A500 down to Sideway and ten onto the A50. On Stanley Matthews Way we saw Wardle Transport 2963 on the Hanley bound Plumline service. We went home passing 42726 and 40003 on Hanley bound #23's. As it was just before 15:30 we decided to catch a bus down to tent vale to meet mum at the Black Lion. We walked down to the stop on Magdalen Road to wait for the bus which I knew was going to be either 40143 or 40147. First Potteries 40016 made an appearance on the Longton bound #22 as the buses often pass into Blurton.

First Potteries 40016 in Blurton

A couple of minutes late an ALX200 Dart rounded the corner and it was 40143.

First Potteries 40143 in Blurton

The bus was nearly empty so Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus before he sat down.

Inside First Potteries 40143

We set off through Trentham and the bus was a little on the rattly side especially when idling. We called mum to tell her we were on the bus so that she could set off to meet us. We followed First Potteries 61145 up New Inn Lane and we passed First Potteries 42727 at the corner of Wilson Road. As we crossed under the a500 we saw First Potteries 41496 on a Trentham bound #21. We decided to get off the bus as it turned onto Keelings drive so that we didn't have to cross over the A34. We passed 40147 on the 3rd daytime #22 turn and then got off the bus. We walked back to the black lion and then sat on the wall as we had beaten mum down to the pub. Whilst we waited we saw and photographed First Potteries 65005 on a Hanley bound #101 service.

First Potteries 65005 in Trent Vale

A few minutes latter mum turned up and we went into the pub. Matthew then had an hour or so bus watching and eating which are 2 of his favourite things. Matthew had 2 sausage, egg, bacon chips and beans with 2 oatcakes followed by treacle sponge and ice cream. He had this with a glass of Coke. The highlight of the buses was Bennetts NIL 8662 which travelled North up the A34. After we had finished eating we went outside and called uncle Dave. We headed of to collect him. A34, A500 to sideway and then A50 to Heron Cross. We headed into fenton and picked up uncle Dave. We passed 40003 and 42726 on #23A's before retuning to Heron Cross. On Blurton Road we saw Lightning travel vehicles FD53 UNX and NX03 JYJ. We got home around 17:30 and Matthew chilled out on his computer before a let snack of some cheesecake and then bedtime...Mark