Trip to Newcastle / Hanley 31-12-2025

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
6008	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	1A	D&G Bus
35939	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	25	First Potteries
798	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	9	D&G Bus
6008	Newcastle BS	Fenton, Smithpool Road	1A	D&G Bus

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going out on the bus. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast for breakfast. before Matthew went to the day centre he watched buses out of the window. Later on we went downstairs and we set off onto Temple Street and we turned left onto Christchurch Street. We turned left onto City Road. We walked down to the bus stop outside the flats. At the Afford garage we saw Afford rent-a-car CF74 DHM parked up.

Afford rent-a-car CF74 DHM in Fenton

A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was D&G Bus 6008 on a #1A to Wood Lane.

D&G Bus 6008 in Fenton

We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off down City Road and we ran down the hill over the old railway line to Leek and onto the A52. We ran under the railway line and over the A500 and straight into Stoke town centre. We continued along Church Street onto Hartshill Road and into the centre of Hartshill. We turned left into the Avenue and left again onto Hilton Road before turning right into the City General Hospital. hospital. As we travelled through the hospital we saw ERS Medical YJ71 DWG and Intermediate Care YX22 MLZ. Once through the hospital we turned right onto the A34 and we ran into Newcastle. We crossed the roundabout and we ran up Barracks Road and into the bus station from the South end. Once we got to the bus station we got up and got off the bus. Whilst we waited for a bus to Hanley and Matthew visited the toilet. A few minutes later the bus turned up and it was dud First Potteries 35939 on a #25 to Hanley.

First Potteries 35939 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Hanley before sitting down towards the back of the bus. When it was time to go the bus set off out of the bus station and onto Barracks Road. We turned left at the roundabout onto the A34. we ran South as far as the hospital where we turned left. As we travelled through the hospital. We came out of the hospital and turned left onto Hilton Road. We ran into Hartshill and we turned right onto the A52. We ran down the hill into Stoke town centre and along Church Street. After a brief stop we continued along the A52, over the A500 and under the railway line. We followed the A52 to the left and we ran alongside the railway and onto Station Road. We passed the railway station and we turned right onto Stoke Road and we turned right onto Avenue Road. At the roundabout we turned left onto College Road. We ran up the hill through Shelton and we followed the road to the right onto Cleveland Road and Regent Road. We turned left onto Lower Bethesda Street and we crossed over the ring road, continuing onto Bethesda Street. We turned right onto John Street and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we set off up Lichfield Street. We turned righ onto Old Hall Street past the site of the old bus station which has now been almost completely demolished. We turned the corner onto and we walked along Parliament Row. We stopped at Poundland and Matthew brought a bottle of Coke. After we had been to Poundland we stopped on Upper Market Square and We sat down and Matthew had a bottle of coke. When we had finished we walked along Tontine Street and we walked onto Old Hall Street and we saw Roseville FD70 YDT parked up. We walked up Lichfield Street and back to the bus station. We waited for a bus back towards Fenton. As it got closer we saw it was D&G Bus 798 on a #9 to Westbury Park.

D&G Bus 798 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto john Street and left onto Bethesda Street. We crossed over the ring road and we ran down through Shelton along Regent Road and College Road. We passed the railway station and we continued forwards onto the A52. We followed the road to the right under the railway line. We crossed over the A500 we entering Stoke town centre. We continued along Church Street and forwards onto Hartshill Road. We turned left onto Princes Road past the old school. Part of site was demolished to make more car parking spaces. We ran into Penkhull village. We onto Newcastle Lane and we turned right onto Hilton Road. We turned into the hospital and as we travelled through the hospital we saw ERS Medical FJ21 HJZ and ABC Supreme HV22 HKM. We turned right onto the A34 and we ran into Newcastle. We crossed the roundabout and we ran up Barracks Road and into the bus station from the South end. Once we got to the bus station we got up and got off the bus. Once we got off the bus. We walked out of the bus station and we waited for a bus towards Trentham Gardens. A few minutes later we saw D&G Bus 811 on a #85 to Nantwich.

D&G Bus 811 in Newcastle bus station

We walked out of the bus station and we waited for a bus towards Hanley. Once off the bus we set off onto Castle walk and we past the former Poundland. We continued down Castle Walk and up onto Ironmarket past the old RBS bank which has now The Bank Space. We turned left onto High Street past the old Santander bank which has now closed. We visited a cash machine and we withdrew some money and we stopped at McDonalds. Matthew had a burger and fries washed down with a cup of Coke. Once we had finished we walked down Street and we turned left into Hassell Street. We returned to the bus station and we waited for a bus to Longton. Eventually the bus appeared and it was D&G Bus 6008 on a #1 to Meir.

D&G Bus 6008 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Fenton and sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Barracks Road. We ran Southwards onto the A34. We turned left into the hospital and we ran through the the grounds. As we travelled through the hospital we saw Roseville FD70 YDT. We turned left onto Hilton Road. We continued onto Albany Road and we turned right onto The Avenue. At the end of the road we turned right onto the A52 and we ran through Hartshill and down the hill into Stoke town centre. After a brief stop we continued along Church Street out of Stoke and over the A500. We ran under the railway line and we continued onto City Road. At the top of the hill we got up and got off the bus. We crossed over City Road and we cut through to the residential unit. We went upstairs and chilled out in his room to use his computer and watch buses. We went downstairs and got in the car we set off onto Temple Street and we turned right onto Smithpool Road. We turned left onto City Road and we ran down into Stoke. We ran around the one-way system and we turned left onto London Road. We turned right onto Penkhull New Road and we ran through Penkhull onto Newcastle Lane. We turned right onto Queens Road and we turned left onto St Peters Way. We turned right onto Lodge Road and we turned right onto Newcastle Lane we turned left onto St Thomas Place and forwards onto Princes Street. At the end of the road we turned right onto the A52 and we ran down into Stoke and onto the one way system. We turned right onto Elenora Street and we followed the road around onto Copeland Street and we turned left onto Glebe Street. We turned right onto Lytton Street and we ran through onto City Road. We ran under the railway bridge and we ran up the hill into Fenton. We turned right into Smithpool Road and we turned left onto Temple Street past the Queen Elizabeth II Court. We continued back to the residential unit. Matthew went up to his room to chill out on his computer and watch buses out of the window. Later on Matthew attended a new Years Eve party. We went downstairs and the main lounge was filled with food. Matthew ate egg sandwiches and a burger followed by lots of cake! He also drank a bottle of Coke. Matthew stayed up until after midnight in order to see in the new year. Happy New Year 2026! Matthew went upstairs and we to bed around 00:30... Mark

Trip to Wrexham 07-01-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
913	Wrexham BS	Mount Sion, Mount Sion Library (S-bound)	12	Arriva NW&W
831	Mount Sion, Mount Sion Library (S-bound)	Wrexham BS	12	Arriva NW&W
915	Wrexham BS	New Broughton, Millfields (E-bound)	13	Arriva NW&W
811	New Broughton, Millfields (E-bound)	Wrexham BS	13	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to go somewhere new. Matthew had chosen Wrexham by pointing to text on a website. Research began earlier in the week by make inquiries about the town in the Staffordshire and Merseyside Yahoo bus group. I also visited the Arriva site and under advice looked at the Taith website about a bus and rail rover that is valid in Wrexham. I printed out the Arriva Wrexham day saver area map and Arriva timetables 12-14. We set off a little after 12:00 and stopped at Longport to pick up LPG. We saw a chuck wagon on the A500 so we stopped. They were just finishing up, and only had a bacon sandwich left. We decided to give this to Matthew and we would go without until later. Back on the road the traffic was quiet and we reached Wrexham around 13:30. We were able to park on King Street opposite the bus station. We decided to have a quick walk around before we caught a bus. As we walked along the street matthew got a picture of Arriva NW&W 823.

Arriva NW&W 823 in Wrexham bus station

On advice we walked around the end of the bus station and stood outside Fat Cats cafe. This is where all the buses set down before coming into the bus station. Whilst we were there Matthew got a few pictures of buses including GHA bus AA52 GHA

AA52 GHA outside Fats Cats in Wrexham

This was quickly followed by GHA bus SB43 which was branded for an Altrincham to Knutsford service.

GHA bus SB43 outside Fats Cats in Wrexham

We then went around the other side of the bus station where there is a bus stabling point. Matthew walked down the line and took pictures of the backs of these buses. We then decided to catch a bus. There was an Arriva Dart on a service #12 so we decided to catch this. It was Arriva NW&W 913 which was required. We got on and it was nearly full as we left. The bus left town, crossing the railway line and the passing the Hospital. We then passed the Arriva Caego bus garage and a driver that had been a passenger on the bus got off. The bus continued up a hill through New Broughton and then turned to the right at a small roundabout. After a big climb up and over a hill we arrived at the loop end of the service in Brymbo where we got off. Matthew then got a picture of 913.

Arriva NW&W 913 on Offa Street

Consulting the timetable we had around 20 minutes to wait for a return. When there are 5 Arriva buses in an hour we had probably the longest time to wait we could have had. We also saw a GHA bus on the 15 service. Eventually the bus turned up and it was Arriva NW&W 831.

Arriva NW&W 831 on Offa Street

We did the bus back up and over into Wrexham and Matthew got a picture of the inside on arrival.

Inside 831

He also got another good picture of the bus outside Fat Cats.

831 outside Fat Cats, Wrexham

Whilst waiting to see which bus we were going to next we saw the Pats Coaches town link service with J854 PUD in charge.

Pat's Coaches J854 PUD o the town link service

We also saw D Jones AE07 DZB on a service to Minera.

D Jones &: son AE07 DZB on a #9 to Minera

It was then time for the next Bymbo bound bus so we went over to Stand #8 to find Arriva NW&W 925 waiting on a #13. This service take a different route via the railway station and the Coch Plas retail park. We decided not to do this bus all the way this time so we got back before it went dark. So we did the bus to the top end of New Brought to where the service split and go in different directions. Matthew got a good picture of the bus as we got off.

Arriva NW&W 915 in New Broughton

We thought we had missed the #13, but a couple of minutes later required 811 appears from around the corner.

Arriva NW&W 811 in New Broughton

We did this back into Wrexham and Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside 811

He noticed an odd seat, and as Matthew is obsessed with different seat moquettes he had to take a picture of this too.

The odd seat inside 811

Matthew visited the local Co-op for sweets, pop and cake. We went back to the car and Matthew had a sausage roll. At this point Matthew took a few more pictures, including M403 EFD on the Bryn Melyn Llangollen to Wrexham service.

Bryn Melyn M403 EFD on a #5 service

Before we returned to the car, sausage roll (saving the other food for later) as we left town. It soon went dark and we listened to the second half commentary on the Gillingham Stoke game on the radio. Stoke were leading 1-2 at this point and then quickly scored a third. The match ended 1-3. The traffic on the journey back was quiet and we arrived back in Stoke around 17:15...Mark