Trip to the POPS rally 18-05-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
30033	Britannia Stadium	Stone	Special	First PMT
356	Stone	Britannia Stadium	Special	Trent
952	Britannia Stadium	Hanley Museum	Special	United Counties
279	Hanley Museum	Britannia Stadium	Special	PMT
6225	Britannia Stadium	Stone	Special	WM
6225	Stone	Britannia Stadium	Special	WM
MMM120	Britannia Stadium	Newcastle BS	Special	First PMT
MMM120	Newcastle BS	Britannia Stadium	Special	First PMT

Today was the highlight of Matthew's social calender! We checked the weather forecast the day before and was for sunny intervals. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had some crumpets and orange juice for breakfast. We set off to pick up uncle Dave around 11:00. We had planned on getting some food from the sandwich shop on Blurton Road but, it was closed despite what the sign said in the window about being open Sundays. After picking up Uncle Dave we drove through Heron Cross and onto the A50 and turned onto Stanley Matthew Way. We were directed onto the car park in front of the West Stand and we parked up. As we walked up to the area where the buses were parked we saw PMT 604 about to depart on a trip out.

PMT 604 at the Britannia Stadium

The first thing we did was to go shopping! Matthew went to Dave Spencer and spent nearly £100. He didn't take long to chose the DVD's that he wanted. I suspect that he had already researched exactly what he wanted online during the past year! Whilst mum carried on chatting to Dave and Mandy, uncle Dave and I took Matthew around the buses to take few photos. As we went down the first row Matthew got a picture of Chester City Transport 99.

Chester City Transport 99 at the Britannia Stadium

Further down the row was one of the newer vehicles in the newly formed Stantons of Stoke fleet, Mercedes minibus KN61 EYG.

Stantons of Stoke KN61 EYG at the Britannia Stadium

Further still down the row was former Brighton & Hove Optare bodied Dennis Lance N408 MPN.

Stanways N408 MPN at the Britannia Stadium

We also got a look at a fully decaled First Potteries branded bus for the revamped Keele to Hanley service.

First Potteries 66307 at the Britannia Stadium

After we had finished looking at the first row of buses we moved to the area behind the Boothen End. Stanways had brought along their rare Wadham Stringer bodied Dennis Dart N983 BHE.

Stanways N983 BHE at the Britannia Stadium

Looking very similar to a Bassetts coach was Jackson's AEC coach TEC 599N.

Jackson's TEC 599N at the Britannia Stadium

This year there was a second Turners liveried vehicle. We did not notice at first... This newest vehicle on the scene was Turners 8.

Turners 8 at the Britannia Stadium

We then walked down to the back row of vehicles. These were new vehicles and recently preserved buses. On the end of the row was a rather nice Leyland Lynx formerly with Halton Transport, 35.

Halton Transport 35 at the Britannia Stadium

After we had done a quick lap of the site we bought a program and a North Staffs fleetbook and sat down in front of the West stand to plan our next move. As we though about what we would do we saw recently preserved First Potteries Leyland double decker 30033 move up to the stop. We decided to get a run on this. We got on the bus and sat down upstairs. A minute or so later required Trent 356 pulled up behind us. It was OK as this was the second bus going to Stone and we could get it on the way back. The bus left the Britannia Stadium and we headed South down Stanley Matthews Way. We then turned right onto the A5035 which we did to Trentham. At Trentham we turned left onto the A34. Once on the A34 put in a great turn of speed as we went past Tittensor and onto the 60mph section of road. We carried on along the Fillybrooks and we came into Stone from the South end. Once we crossed the canal we turned onto the one way system and stopped on Crown Street. Matthew went to use the toilet and once he had been he came out and got a picture of First Potteries 30033.

First Potteries 30033 in Stone

A couple of minutes later the slower and older Trent 356 made an appearance. Matthew then got a picture of this dual door Bristol RE.

Trent 356 in Stone

Whilst we had taken this trip down to Stone mum had bumped into Grandma and they had checked out the price of the food at the Britannia Stadium and decided we would get better value eating elsewhere. Unfortunately Grandma had to leave before we got back. The bus left Stone up Newcastle Street and we rejoined the A34 North of Stone. We then had a spirited run up to the A34 but nowhere near as quick as First Potteries which was at least a 1/2 a mile in front of us. We came back into the Britannia Stadium via the A5035 and Stanley Matthews Way and when the bus had finished emptying out Matthew got a picture inside Trent 356.

Inside Trent 356

We met up with mum and we drove off site to go eat at our favourite cafe Go Eat! Situated on the A5035 just outside Longton we went via Stanley Matthews Way and the A5035 and we got there in no time. After visiting their toilet Matthew sat down to a breakfast with oatcakes and toast and a drink of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye and we decided to return to the bus rally via Longton and the site Z Carz. At the site today there were three more buses than last night. The first bus we saw was GL04 CVE.

Z Carz GL04 CVE in Longton

Beside this was Mercedes minibus BV51 BNO.

Z Carz BV51 BNO in Longton

Next to this was Volkswagon OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Finally was the newest arrival, Ford minibus FP06 WTW.

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

We headed back onto the A50 and we drove down to Stanley Matthews Way and into the Britannia Stadium. We knew the 13:50 departure to Hanley Museum was booked to be required United Counties 952. As we turned the corner we saw the bus at the stop. Mum dropped us off and we got a picture of this fine Bristol VR as we waled up to the stop.

United Counties 952 at the Britannia Stadium

We jumped on the bus and we went upstairs. It was quite well filled and Matthew wasn't able to get a picture inside. The bus set off out of the Britannia Stadium and onto the Westbound A50. We took the A500 to Stoke before joining the A52 to head towards the railway station. After a quick stop we turned up college road and then into Hanley past the bus station. We crossed over the ring road and past the bottom of the new bus station before stopping outside the museum. We got off and took a picture of the bus before getting back on it.

United Counties 952 outside Hanley museum

A duplicate service should have been running with required PMT Leyland National 279. Whilst we waited for 952 to depart we saw Aimee's ex Cardiff Dart T147 DAX on the #16 to Leek.As we hadn't seen it we assumed it hadn't run when we saw PMT in the distance coming down Bethesda Street. We jumped off United Counties 952 and we got a picture of required PMT 279. We jumped on and sat down just in front of the glass screen by the rear raised section of the bus. I forgot about the glass screen in these buses were you used to be able to smoke! The bus set off and turned into Broad Street before turning into college Road. We had a quick stop at the railways station before carrying along the A52 to city Road. We then followed part of the old #46 route that the national used to be quite common on back in the day. We went up City Road and we turned right into the buses only section of Christchurch Street. We then turned into station Road before going across Heron Cross. We turned right onto the A50 and we turned into Stanley Matthews Way and then into the Britannia Stadium. We went passed the west Stand and we turned behind the Boothen End to the point where the buses were setting down. We then got another picture of PMT 279.

PMT 279 at the Britannia Stadium

We had a short break off the buses and we sat down by the Boothen End. I had planned on doing Coventry 244 but I had misread the timetable which is easy to do with the look up charts and flicking backwards and forwards in the book. The bus turned out to be West Midlands double decker 6225 which we decided to do instead.

WM 6225 at the Britannia Stadium

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. The bus set off onto Stanley Matthews Way and we turned right at the end onto the A5035. We turned onto the Southbound A34 and we headed South of Stone as we had done on First Potteries 30033. We turned back into town and stopped on Crown Street. First PMT minibus MMM120 had already beaten us to the stop. We got off and took a picture of the minibus.

PMT MMM120 in Stone

Matthew used the toilet and we decided to go back on the double decker rather than to transfer onto the minibus. We sat back the top deck of WM 6225 and the bus set off North. This time the bus went back up the A520 through Outon. At rough Close we turned onto Lightwood Road and we headed towards Longton. We turned onto Belgrave Road and then onto the A5035. We then went along to Stanley Matthews Way and then back into the Britannia Stadium. When we got back to the stadium we waited for the bus to empty out and Matthew got a picture inside of WM 6225.

Inside WM 6225

We were going to do Lynx 860 but we had a bit of time to kill so we had a walk around whilst we waited. We came across the former British Airways triple door Leyland National with Matthew like the look of.

British Airways B361 LOY at the Britannia Stadium

There was somebody with the bus so we asked if we could go on it and have a look around. Matthew then took a picture inside B361 LOY.

Inside British Airways B361 LOY

We also had a look on the new liveried First Potteries Volvo 66307.

Inside First Potteries 66307

The bus we hoped to catch later former PMT Lynx 860, was parked up between duties.

PMT 860 at the Britannia Stadium

It looked like Stanways Dart N983 BHE wasn't going to work today afterall. The was no-one with the bus so Matthew had to settle for taking a picture through the front window.

Inside Stanways N983 BHE

The Brisol RE that we rode on earlier, Trent 356 was parked up in a nice sunny location.

Trent 356 at the Britannia Stadium

We walked over to the newer buses and Matthew got a picture of one of D&G's latest acquisition, Enviro 200 109.

D&G 109 at the Britannia Stadium

The bus was open and unattended so Matthew went on and took a picture inside this bus.

Inside D&G 109

At this point we were epecting PMT 860 to work but we didn't see it. Matthew decided to look at the stalls again and by a few photographs. There were only a few departures left now, and only one full round trip as far as we could see. This was going to be dud First PMT MMM120. We decided to do this bus anyway because we hadn't been on it for a long time. The bus pulled up at the stop and we got a picture of the Mercedes minibus.

PMT MMM120 at the Britannia Stadium

The last time we had this bus was back in August 2010. We got on the bus and we sat down near the back. The bus was doing a round trip to Newcastle. he bus set off onto Stanley Matthew Way and we joined the Westbound A50 and then the Northbound A500. We came off the A500 at Shelton New Road and we headed up to the border of Newcastle. We dropped down into Newcastle along George Street and into Newcastle bus station. We asked the driver if there was time to take a quick picture and after he said yes we jumped off and got a nice shot of MMM120 in the sunshine.

PMT MMM120 in Newcastle bus station

We got back on and the bus set off out of town. We did the A53 through Basford and onto the A500. We then went back up the A500 until we met the A50 and back into Stanley Matthew Way and the Britannia Stadium. We waited for the bus to empty and Matthew got another picture inside First PMT MMM120.

Inside PMT MMM120

Mum was waiting for us and we decided to get a few more pictures as we walked back to the car. Former Big Green Bus E989 VUK was now in clear view.

E989 VUK at the Britannia Stadium

As we walked back Chester City Transport 99 set of back to it's home.

Chester City Transport 99 at the Britannia Stadium

Outside the West stand Midland Red 674 set off on it's journey home.

Midland Red 674 at the Britannia Stadium

We jumped into the car and we went to drop Uncle Dave off at home. We then came back through Heron cross into Blurton getting home just after after 17:00. For tea Matthew had chicken popcorn and fries. He then chilled out watching his new DVD's and using his computer and having a bath until bedtime around 23:00...Mark

Trip on the IBT Copeland's Tours tour 07-04-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
53207	Ladybank Grove (adj), Blurton	Stoke railway station	23	First Potteries
MIB 542	Stoke railway station	Copeland's Tours depot	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 864	Copeland's Tours depot	Stanley Matthews Way	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 864	Stanley Matthews Way	Copeland's Tours depot	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 614	Copeland's Tours depot	Cheadle town car park	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 970	Cheadle town car park	Copeland's Tours depot	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 346	Copeland's Tours depot	Stafford Road, Stone	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 346	Stafford Road, Stone	Copeland's Tours depot	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 746	Copeland's Tours depot	Trentham Gardens	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 746	Trentham Gardens	Stoke railway station	Charter	Copeland's Tours

Today we decided to try out our first bus tour. We have seen many of these advertised on various newsgroups, but when one was happening locally we decided to give it a go. Once it was confirmed that the start time was 11;30, we made arrangement of how we were going to get there. Mum got Matthew out of bed at 10:00 whilst I got some sandwich meat for our packed lunched and checked out what bus was Te 09:40 from Longton was First Potteries 53207 which was gong to be our bus down to the station later. I also saw Wardle Transport 2531 whizz by on the #22 to Longton. When I got home Matthew was dressed and was eating his toast for breakfast. He had also drank his orange juice. We set off just before 10:50 and walked to the Ladybank Grove stop to wait for required 53207. The bus arrived a few minutes late and Matthew got his picture.

First Potteries 53207 in Blurton

We got on the First Potteries Solo and Matthew sat down without honking the horn. The bus filled up quickly and we were never going to get a picture inside this bus. We got to the railway station only a few minutes later, which was quite good considering the roadworks and diversion. When we got off Matthew took a picture of the rear of this bus in the sun.

First Potteries 53207 by Stoke railway station

Uncle Dave was at the bus stop waiting for us, he had walked down to meet us. We crossed the road and sat on the steps by the Southbound stop. We didn't know which direction the first coach would com from, but we were confident we could get to either stop quite quickly. There was a small crowd gathering by the station and they looked like they might be bus enthusiasts. They were waiting on both side of the street with the majority been by the Wedgwood monument. At a little after 11:30 we saw a Copeland's Tours coach at the lights in the distance on Leek Road. So we crossed over to try and get a good location to get a picture. The coach approached and we saw it was required Copeland's Tours MIB 542.

Copeland's Tours MIB 542 by Stoke railway station

The coach set off and someone came around to collect the fares (£10 each). We headed onto Stoke Road and turned right towards Hanley. We went anticlockwise around the ring road and then down Lichfield Street passing the new bus station. In the bus station was First Potteries 34311 presumably after working a #32A dupe to Alton Towers. At the bottom of lichfield Street we turned left onto Leek Road. At limekiln light we turned right on the a52 and then right again towards Bentilee. We passed First's Adderley Green garage where 40003 was near the front and we could see an Olympian near the wash plant. We went down Anchor Road and then around Longton to join onto the eastbound A50 passing nearby the Z Carz depot. We went through Meir tunnel and turned into the Copeland's Tours garage. They parked the bus in a favourable position in the yard Everyone got off and took pictures of MIB 542.

Copeland's Tours MIB 542 in the Copeland's depot

We were allowed to look around the yard and take pictures, the only exception being in the North East corner of the yard where the withdrawn buses were parked . One of the Withdrawn buses was Plaxton bodied DAF MIB 229. After a few minutes in the yard taking pictures we were told that the next coach was going to be DAF coach MIB 864. They started the coach up and we walked over to it and took a picture before we got on it.

Copeland's Tours MIB 864 in the Copeland's depot

The coach went to the roundabout at Meir Park and then turned back towards Stoke-on-Trent on the A50. At longton we came off the A50 and joined the A5035 passing nearby our house! We carried onto the A34 and then headed to Hanford. At Hanford e joined the Northbound A500 coming of at Sideway. We turned off the A50 and parked on Stanley Matthews Way near the Britannia Stadium and we all got off for a very quick photo stop here.

Copeland's Tours MIB 864 near the Britannia Stadium

We got back on the coach and then headed East back to the Copeland's Tours depot. Matthew waited patiently for the coach to empty and then got a picture inside this unusual coach.

Inside Copeland's Tours MIB 864

This time the coach stopped outside the gates of the depot to help keep the changeover between coaches quicker. Whilst this occurred we took Matthew to the nearby BP garage to us the toilet and we brought some coke and chocolate too. We managed to do this quite quickly and so we sat down on a barrier next to some work being carried out in the garage. A minute or so later MIB 614 emerged through the gates and everyone took a few picture before getting on it.

Copeland's Tours MIB 614 outside the Copeland's depot

This time we headed eastwards along the A50. Matthew had been a little moody on the first 2 coaches, but the stop and drink seemed to have perked him up. We had a good fast run up to the junction of the A522. We turned back towards stoke and headed into Tean. It was a good fast run and it was really enjoyable zooming down this country road at a reasonably fast pace. At Tean we continued to follow the A522 and turned right. At just after 13:30 we pulled up in the Cheadle town car park and at this point we were left here for a break whilst they changed vehicles. We were told we would meet back up at 14:45. Matthew took a picture of MIB 614 before it went back to the depot.

Copeland's Tours MIB 614 in Cheadle

We used the toilet in the car park and we went for a walk around. We ate the rest of the sandwiches that e had and then went for a walk. we found a Kebab shop open and so we decided to have a small portion of chips each too. Whilst we waited for the chips we saw a couple of buses First Potteries 53829 was on a Kingsley service and 65003 was heading to Uttoxeter and Matthew took a picture of it through the kebab shop window.

First Potteries 65003 in Cheadle

We got the chips and walked back to the car park. By the time we had eaten the chips washed down with a can of pop and then visited the toilet again it was 14:30 and we only had 15 minutes to wait.We sat on the Millenium sundial steps and waited for the next bus. Pretty much bang on time Copeland's Tours MIB 970 made an appearance and after everyone had taken there pictures we got on the coach.

Copeland's Tours MIB 970 in Cheadle

We carried on North on the A522 up to the A52 which we did to Cellarhead. At Cellarhead we turned left onto the A520 which we did to Meir before getting back on the A50 and going to the depot gates. We got off and Matthew waited to get a picture inside MIB 970 too.

Inside Copeland's Tours MIB 970

Matthew sat back down on his barrier and we had a drink and a chocolate bar. We didn't have to wait long before MIB 346 came through the gates. Everyone took pictures and then we got on the coach.

Copeland's Tours MIB 346 outside the Copeland's depot

The bus set off eastwards again, and this time we came off the A50 at the A521. In Draycott we turned right onto Cresswell Road and we headed down to the south end of Stone via Hilderstone. There was still plenty of snow in place despite there not being any snowfall for over 2 weeks! We then headed into Stone and then turned left as if we were going to the A34. We stopped in a layby outside the West Bridge Park Fitness Centre, a place where some of the Wardle Transport buses layover in the week when working the town services. Everyone got off and we took some more pictures.

Copeland's Tours MIB 346 near the leisure centre Stone

Whillst there we saw a coupe of veicles go past. First we saw Silver coach 2557 VY whizz by. The we saw Joseph's minibus J618 PNE come past too. After picture were taken we all got back on the coach. The coach headed up through Stone and then onto the A520 which we did up to Meir. We then returned to the depot again, this time going inside the gates. We backed into the coaches parking spot next to MIB 229 and then the coach empty and Matthew took a picture of inside too.

Inside Copeland's Tours MIB 346

We got off and then nipped to the BP garage again. Matthew visited the toilet and then got a can of Coke and a Galaxy caramel bar. We went back inside the yard and took a few pictures, before taking a picture of our final coach of the day MIB 746.

Copeland's Tours MIB 746 in the Copeland's depot

We got on and sat down near the back. It was now around 16:00 and we were heading back to the railway station. Not before having another photo stop first though. We Turned about on Meir Park roundabout and then headed back into Stoke-on-Trent for the final time. We came off at Longton again and once again went down the A5035 nearby our house. At the end of the A5035 is Trentham Gardens and we went down to the very bottom of the car park and stopped for the last time. We all got off and took pictures of MIB 746

Copeland's Tours MIB 746 near Trentham Gardens

I asked Matthew if he wanted to return home on the #23 or get mum to pick us up and he chose mum. After taking pictures we called mum up to say that we might a bit early and we would call her when we were close to the station. We got back on the coach and we turned North on the A34 up to Hanford. We then went North on the A500, coming off at the city Road junction. We then headed onto Leek Road. We called mum to let her to know she could set off to pick us up. We then arrived at the station and got off. In front off us was Notts+Derby Paladin bodied Volvo B10 136 on a rail replacement service. We got a picture and then crossed the road to wait for mum.

Notts+Derby 136 by Stoke railway station

We didn't have to wait too long before mum turned up. We got in the car and drove to heron Cross dropping Uncle Dave off on the way. we then saw Lightning Travel FD53 UNX and also First Potteries 53830 on the #23A service. we got home around 17:20 and I made everyone tea, which was chicken popcorn and fries. We looked at our pictures for the day and then Matthew had a bath around 20:00. When he was finished he chilled out on his computer before bedtime which was around 00:00...Mark