Trip to The Britannia Stadium 08-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2408	Britannia Stadium	Stanley Matthews Way, Blurton	500	Wardle Transport

Matthew had been good today and I decided to treat him with a trip out on the #500. It was the first running of this service since the north Staffordshire operations of D&G had been taken over by Arriva Midlands and joined up with Wardle Transport. We walked the best part of two miles to the stop outside the Britannia Stadium, by the time we got there it was proper dark! We had a 10 minute rest before the bus turned up. The bus was Wardle Transport 2408 which is required!


2408 outside the Brit... (Matt)

We Travelled the length of Stanley Matthews Way on the bus. Inside there are still remnants of this buses stint with First PMT, as there are still pink and purple sticker inside the bus. Matthew photographed the classic 'Cityrider' bus moquette.


Cityrider moquette inside 2408 (Matt)

We got off and crossed the road as always and waited for the bus to return to the first stop. We then got a couple of pictures.


At the start... 2408 ready to work the return service (Matt)

We then walked home in near total darkness. A small slither of sky was visible to the NW behind the bus as we walked home...Mark

Trip on the #41 12-08-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
32	Church Street, Stoke	Penkhull Ambulance station (adj)	41	D&G

Originally had this day booked off so we could take Matthew further afield, but an appointment with a healthcare worker and the torrential rain put pay to this! We changed the plans to take Matthew out for dinner in Blurton, the new cafe on Finstock, but by the time we were all ready it was 15:00 and the cafe had closed. So we gave Matthew a choice of Longton or Stoke to go and eat in a cafe. Matthew chose Stoke.

In Stoke we took Matthew to the London Grill, an old favorite of his from our Sunday shopping days. The cafe has a good view of Campbell Place and you can see the frequent aervices #21/21A out of the window. Whilst eating dinner there were a good selection of Dennis Darts & Solos's on the #21A and a Dart and Wright/Scania's on the #21. At this point I realised that I hadn't got my phone and if Matthew were to catch a bus we would need to make definate plans.

We tried to persuade Matthew to catch a #21 to Trentham, but we just missed one coming out of the cafe. When we got to the stop, Matthew dragged us past and into Church Street. He considered catching the Plum towards Stoke Station, but this pulled off before we could get to it. Right behind it was D&G 32 on the #41 Westbury Park service, an interesting double doored Dennis Dart SLF and a long time target ride of Matthews. As I didn't know the route precisely. we arranged that mum would ride on the bus and I would meet them. We quickly tried to tell each other where we would meet but we misunderstood the answers to each others questions and this lead to a bizarre misunderstanding!


D&G 32 in Harpfields Road on the #41 to Westbury Park (Matt)

I drove to the hospital via Harsthill and Newcastle. There were roadworks in Hartshill and this delayed me slightly. As I entered the hospital I passed D&G 32, but because the bus was in shade I couldn't see if they were still on the bus. I drove around the part of the hospital I expected them to be and I could not find them. I decided to drive back to Newcastle in case Matthew had stayed on the bus. I drove around the outside of the bus station but still no sign. I then decide to drive back to the hospital and still could not see them. As I drove in to the hospital, I thought I'd heard Matthew. So I decided to park up find a public telephone and phone mum on her mobile.

"where are you..?"
"Child Development Centre..."
"Huh! I thought you'd said you would get off where we go for his appointments...?"
"I thought you'd said by the Maternity ward...?"
"I said City General was were the Maternity ward was..."
"Ohh...well I don't know the route of the bus, I got off by the hopital..."
"The bus goes through the hospital"
"Oh...Anyway, come and fetch me!"

Five minutes later I'd driven through the hospital nad picked them up. The journey home was a heated discussion of how I should always have my mobile phone...

(Mark)

Trip to the POPS rally 09-05-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
JBF 169N	Wedgwood	Stone, Crown Street	10	Ex Turner's
A506 FSS	Stone, Crown Street	Wedgwood	10	Ex Glovers
C221 WAJ	Wedgwood	Stone, Crown Street	10	Stanways
H801 GRE	Stone, Crown Street	Wedgwood	10	Ex First PMT

It's the main local bus rally of the year, so it stands to reason Matthew wants to be here. After a quick car journey to the site, we proceed to look at the program to see which buses he wants to catch, and work out how we can fit them in. A quick look at the program reveals the Glovers Dennis Lancet was leaving for Stone at 13:00. We do the stalls, and then sit and have dinner on a grass bank were Matthew could photograph the buses as they did the shuttle services.


Beresford's bus at Wedgwood (Matthew)

We went down to the bus stops at around 12:40, but Matthew was getting restless with regard to going on the next bus (PMT 801 due off at 14:00). As a filler, we did Turner's 10 to Stone, and waited for the Glovers bus on it's return.


Turners bus 10 (JBF 169N) leaves Stone for Wedgwood. (Matthew)


After a short lay-over at stone, the Glovers Lancet appeared and we did this back to Wedgwood.


Glover Dennis Lancet A506 FSS at Stone (Matthew)

When we returned to Wedgwood, it was looking like PMT 801 would not start! Due off at the same time was a bus provided by Reliance Bus Works. This was a Dennis Dominator (C221 WAJ). We boarded this bus as we need to distract Matthew so he didn't get too upset. As we sat on the top deck awaiting time to leave, it appeared they had started 801. Since we were now settled on the double decker, the plan was to get off at stone and swap onto 801 for the return. We got off at stone and let the double decker go.


C221 WAJ at Stone (Matthew).

The next bus that turned up was a half cab single decker which we contemplated catching due to 801's non appearance. Just as we were about to give up, 801 appeared much to everybodies relief! Also on board was Matthews favourite DVD producer Dave Spencer of PMP videos fame.


First PMT 801 (H801GRE) at Stone (Matthew)

So Matthew had a short ride on 801 back to Wedgwood. After this there was just time for him to buy £22.50's worth of photographs before returning to the car...

Also of note which I guess he will want to catch next time is this Ex Northern Ireland Leyland Tiger


NXI 4619 at Wedgwood (Matthew).


Mark

Trip to Ball Green 01-05-2009

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
W591 YBN	Blurton	Chell Heath	Charter	Z carz
MIB 236	Chell Heath	Chester Zoo	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 236	Chester Zoo	Chell Heath	Charter	Copeland's Tours
W591 YBN	Chell Heath	Blurton	Charter	Z carz
40116	Smallthorne, Robinson Avenue (opp)	Ball Green, Wilding Road shops (adj)	21A	First Potteries

Matthew had is usual bus to School. Matthew went to Chester Zoo and back on Copeland's Tours MIB 236. He returned home on his usual bus.

Another Smallthorne trip after school. Back in 2009, the final 3 step entranced Darts in the First PMT fleet had been soldiering on for over a year. Matthew had noticed their demise before I had, and at one stage he would only travel on a step entranced Dart. About a year after this phase had ended, Matthew had clocked up quite a few miles on Darts 40115/6/26. The current phase of bus travel was to travel to Smallthorne and take the First interesting bus North to wherever.

We set off around 4:30 and when we reached Heron Cross we passed an ex PMT Dart which Matthew photographed out of the car window.


Ex First PMT Dennis Dart MIB 783 on a Copelands #40 Longton - Fenton Circular in Heron Cross (Matt)

20 or so minutes later we arrived at the stop in Smallthorne. Straight out of the car 40116 appeared and I knew he would want to catch this! A quick phone call was made to tell mum where to pick us up, and off we went...


40116 in Smallthorne (Matt)

One of the last few buses still with the grey and red moquette, Matthew as always took a few pictures inside.


The view forward inside 40116 (Matt)

15 minutes later we arrived at the Ball Green stop and Matthew took another photo of 40116. It is the one and only time we've been to Ball Green on the bus, and why else would anyone go there?


40116 on arrival at Ball Green (Matt)

Not the last time Matthew rode on 40116, but certainly the the one and only time he's done a step entranced Dart to Ball Green. On the way home we passed another step dart, 40126 in Blurton.


40126 in Blurton (Matt)

So, 2 of the 3 PMT Darts seen out today, plus another 1 on a Copelands service. (Mark)