Trip to Stoke 28-06-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
T131 SAG	Blurton	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Z carz
DX56 FYZ	Abbey Hulton	Park hall	Charter	Blackfriars
T412 JUX	Park hall	Trentham	Charter	Z carz
T413 JUX	Trentham	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Star Travel
S973 OVR	Abbey Hulton	Blurton	Charter	Z carz
40027	Waterside Drive, Shepley Grove	Stoke railway station	23	First Potteries
60194	Stoke railway station	Church Street, Stoke	25	First Potteries
66839	Church Street, Stoke	Stoke railway station	25	First Potteries
2933	Stoke railway station	Stanley Matthews Way, Hem Heath	500	Wardle Transport

T131 SGA was the power for this morning, once at college he did college transport to Park Hall. He then did T412 JUX to Trentham. He then did Star Travel T413 JUX to Abbey Hulton. he returned home on VW minibus S973 OVP.

It was a fine evening so we decided to go out tonight. I went to view the 23a diagram which was 40027. This wasn't a required bus but we hadn't been on it since January 2009! We walked the short distance to the Shepley Grove stop and after a short wait sure enough 40027 appeared.


40027 in Newstead (Matt)

A short journey later and we were by Stoke station. in this fine summer evening Matthew was able to get a good picture here.


40027 outside Stoke railway station (Matt)

We crossed the road and waited for the #25 which was a Newcastle bus and usually required. Whilst waiting the other 23 diagram turned up with it's usual power 'dinky donut' 40003.


40003 outside Stoke railway station (Matt)

A few minutes later the #25 turned up and it didn't disappoint! It was Ex Manchester Scania 60194! We then did the short run into Stoke town Centre where he got a good picture.


60194 in Church Street Stoke (Matt)

We noticed we hadn't passed the Hanley bound 25 this time, and there were people at the stop so we crossed the road to wait for that bus. Unfortunately there was a drunk who was a bit abusive. We just smiled and kept our fingers crossed he didn't turn violent. I often have to hold Matthews hand to keep him safe, so he called us a derogatory term for homosexuals! As we got on the bus the drunk also called everyone on the bus w*****rs because they wouldn't have a sing song! the bus was 66839. one which Matthew had been on before with his respite carers, but I had not. We got off at the station thankful to be in one piece...


66839 outside Stoke railway station (Matt)

We then had Approximately 10 minutes before the 500. the bus turned up and it was same as last time Solo 2933. the bus was reasonably well filled up to the distribution centre and then we were the only one left on. Before we got off Matthew got a picture of the inside.


Inside 2933 (Matt)

he then got an OK picture as it went to turn around for the Norton leg of the journey.


2933 on Stanley Matthews Way (Matt)

Another good nights bus travel slightly marred by the drunken fool...Mark

Trip to Stoke 21-06-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
W187 RRE	Blurton	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Z carz
DX56 FYZ	Abbey Hulton	Tittesworth Reservoir	Charter	Blackfriars
DX56 FYZ	Tittesworth Reservoir	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Blackfriars
S973 OVP	Blurton	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Z carz
40166	Waterside Drive, Shepley Grove Walk	Stoke railway station	23	First Potteries
65728	Stoke railway station	Church Street, Stoke	25	First Potteries
2933	Stoke railway station	Stanley Matthews Way, Hem Heath	500	Wardle Transport

Matthew had his current usual transport to college, and whilst there was taken to Tittesworth resvoir and back on minibus DX56 FYZ. once again one the way back the bus was swapped for VW minibus S973 OVP.

The Internet was going a bit slow so I decided to take Matthew out for an hour or so. Also it was the longest day and the sky was relatively clear. I already seen that 40166 was out on the 23A evening turn, which I knew Matthew had not been on. I worked out that we could do this bus to Stoke station for a 25 minute wait for the 500 back. Also there was a 25 Newcastle about the same time, and one back that you might just make. We decided to get an extra mile or so on the bus by taking a slightly longer walk and catching the bus in Newstead. We arrived at the stop a few minutes before the bus turned up as expected 40166.


40166 in Waterside Drive in Newstead (Matt)

After an approximately 25 minute journey we arrived outside Stoke railway station. We didn't have to wait long for the 25 to turn up. This was required 65728.


65728 opposite Stoke railway station (Matt)

We did this bus to Church Street, Stoke and just as we approached Stoke we passed 66849. We got off and Matthew got another picture.


65728 in Church Street, Stoke (Matt)

After we got off, we walked around to Glebe Street. As we had out 12 minutes to wait we decided to walk back to the railway station. We walked briskly back to the station, seeing 40166 heading back towards Blurton. We also noticed 2 coaches behind the North Staffordshire Hotel. Once we got
back to the stop we didn't have to wait long for the 500. todays offering was short Optare Solo 2933


Inside Wardles Transport 2933 (Matt)

The bus was reasonably loaded for a Short Solo, with most getting off at the Sainsbury's distribution centre. As we were about to get off Matthew photographed the inside of this colourful Solo. Today we waited for the bus to come back to the starting point of the return service so we could get a reasonably good picture.


Wardles Transport 2933 at the Stanley Matthew Way origin point (Matt)

By the time we left the bus the sky had clouded up so the photo opportunity had worked out as well as I'd hoped for him. We then had the long walk home...Mark

Trip to Bucknall 17-06-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
S973 OVP	Blurton	Bucknall	Charter	Z Carz
W187 RRE	Bucknall	Blurton	Charter	Z Carz
CE02 LYX	Blurton	Adventure Playground	Charter	Z Carz
CE02 LYX	Adventure Playground	Blurton	Charter	Z Carz

There had been a few changes tot the usual buses for this service and today was no exception, the first time this bu had done this service was the night before when it was a last minute replacement. Matthew had told me there had been a different bus but he didn't manage to get a picture the night before. When S973 OVP turned up the following morning he was able to get a good picture of this beast.


S973 OVP on the way to Blackfriars (Matt)

For the return journey, Z-carz found W187 RRE. This was a bus that had worked occasionally before, but this seem to be the regular preferred choice for this service. Matthew then had a round trip to Newcastle on CE02 LYX..Mark

Trip to Fenton 16-06-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
W187 RRE	Blurton	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Z Carz
GN53 ETZ	Abbey Hulton	Newcastle	Charter	Blackfriars
GN53 ETZ	Newcastle	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Blackfriars
S973 OVR	Abbey Hulton	Blurton	Charter	Z carz
40165	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Mount Pleasant, Temple (adj)	23A	First Potteries

Matthew did his current usual bus out in the morning W187 RRE. Whilst at college he did GN53 ETZ to Newcastle and back. He also saw Copeland's Tours MIB 746 & Procters TLZ 9417 Unusually, the return trip from college was VW bus, S973 OVR!

Later, the same family event that put us in a position for the bus last night, also changed our usual Thursday night routine. As such We went to visit a family member by bus, that we usually do by car on a Wednesday. as we approached the Ladybank stop we saw a Marshall bodied Dart heading towards Newstead. Whilst we waited, we speculated on the identity of the bus and if it would be required. Eventually very much required 40165 turned up on our service.


40165 in Beaconsfield Drive on the 23A to Hanley (Matt)

On the way we passed evening regular 40003 on the 23 diagram. After the short run down through Heron Cross, we got off the bus at the appropriate stop.


40165 departs towards Stoke and Hanley on the 23A (Matt)

After a few hours with said family member, mum came by in the car to pick us up... Mark

Trip to Nortwhich 07-02-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
T408 JUX	Bluton	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Z Carz
GN53 XTJ	Abbey Hulton	Northwich Interchange	Charter	Blackfiars
N575 CEH	Northwich Interchange	Kuntsford	X37	Dobsons
N577 CEH	Kuntsford	Northwich Interchange	X25	Dobsons
GN53 EZT	Northwich Interchange	Abbey Hulton	charter	Blackfriars
S973 OVP	Abbey Hulton	Blurton	Charter	Z carz

Matthew will now be writing this blog. He has decided it's time to post is own posts on. At 07:45 T408 JUX went to college. Matthew was only able to get this picture.


T408 JUX is somewhere in this shot (Matt)

At 09:30 I went to Northwich on GN53 EZT took me to Northwich. N575 CEH took me Knutsford on the X37 service. N577 CEH took me back to Northwich on the X25 service. 7647 was seen at Northwich. mum brought me sausage rolls. I went back to the bus GN53 EZT and then to college and returned home on S973 OVP around 15:00 getting home around 16:00 where there was toast waiting for me...Mark