Trip to Stoke / Newcastle 06-02-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1450	Blurton	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Wardle Transport
1451	Abbey Hulton	Blurton	Charter	Wardle Transport
40003	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Newstead	23	First Potteries
40003	Newstead	Stoke railway station	23	First Potteries
66840	Stoke railway station	Newcastle Town Centre, adj Alma Inn PH	25	First Potteries
60136	Newcastle Under Lyme, adj Seagrave Street	Church Street, Stoke	26	First Potteries
40028	Church Street, Stoke	Stoke railway station	23	First Potteries
66849	Stoke railway station	Church Street, Stoke	25	First Potteries
66852	Church Street, Stoke	Stoke railway station	25	First Potteries
2406	Stoke railway station	Stanley Matthews Way	500	Wardle Transport

Today Matthew had an extra trip out, in order to help to train up a new PA. He started the day on his usual college transport, Wardle Transport 1450.

Wardle 1450 in Blurton

He did to Abbey Hulton and back 1451. As arranged, the PA turned up at 20:00 and we walked all the way to Ladybank Grove. As we had just missed the 19:56 to Hanley, and it was a freezing cold evening, we decided to wait on the other side of the road and do the bus out to Newstead First. The bus turned up and as it is most of the time, this turn was worked by First Potteries 40003.

First Potteries 40003 in Blurton

As we passed through Newstead, I got up to book ticket back to Stoke station. The journey ent to plan and we alight outside the railway station we he got a better picture of 40003.

40003 outside Stoke railway station

We crowssed the road and in a matter of minutes we could see a Volvo single decker approaching. It was required 66840.

First 66840 outside Stoke railway station

We decided to do this to the outskirts of Newcastle and to do the #26 back into Stoke. As we went through Stoke town would could see the Scania we would have on the #26 heading into Newcastle, We also passed another Volvo heading towards Hanley which we would probably ride on later. We got off in George Street Newcaslte and Matthew attempted to get a better picture of the bus.

66840 pulls away on George Street

We crossed the road and headed into Newcsatle, going to the stop opposite The Rigger. We only had to wait a few minutes and we could see our bus approaching. It turn out to be required 60136.

First Potteries 60136 approaches...

We got on and found a seat near the back. A few people got off on the way to Stoke so Matthew was able to get a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside 60136

In Stoke town centre we got off, and Matthew was able to get a much better picture of 60136 under the bright street lights in town.

60136 on Church Street, Stoke

As we had not seen the other #23 diagram we crossed the road in the hope that we might not have missed it. A minute or two later, 40028 turned up on this turn.

First 40028 on Church Street, Stoke

At the railway station Matthew was able to get a better picture.

40028 outside Stoke station

All was going well. We hadn't passed the #25 so we crossed the road in anticipation of this and sure enough after a couple of minutes required Volvo 66849 appeared. We arrived in the town centre and we could see a Hanley bound #25. We were abel to cross the road and get a picture of 66849 before looking at our next bus.

First Potteries 66849 on Church Street, Stoke

After getting his picture of 66849, we turned to see required 66852 and he got a picture of this too!

First Potteries 66852 on Church Street, Stoke

Back at the railway station, Matthew was able to get another picture of 66852.

First Potteries 66852 outside Stoke station

It was now time to wait for the last bus of the day, the #500 to Stanley Matthews Way. As we waited we saw 40028 returning back towards Blurton. After around 10 minutes Wardle Transport 2406 appeared on the #500. It was quite well loaded today, but everybody else got off at the DHL warehouse or before. We did the bus to the end of Stanley Matthews Way where Matthew was able to get a reasonable picture of this beast.

Wardle Transport 2406 on Stanley Matthew Way

When then had a short walk home and we said our goodbye's to the PA. I think secretly he quite enjoyed this hectic evening of bus travel...Mark

Trip to Stafford 04-02-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40304	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Handford, adj Bull's Head	22	First Potteries
65040	Hanford, adj Mayne Street	Stafford railway station	101	First Potteries
EDJ 244J	Stafford railway station	County showground	Charter	POPS
NEH 466	County showground	Stafford railway station	Charter	POPS
2307	Chell Street, Stafford	Moss Pit, opp School Lane	8	Arriva Midlands
2307	Moss Pit, opp School Lane	Stafford, opp St Patricks Street	8	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to go to Stafford. We had seen on the Staffordshire and Merseyside bus group that 2 preserved bus were to run between Stafford railway station and the County showground. Mum was going to be away until dinnertime and so we decided to catch a bus down to Stafford. It was a freezing cold day and the forecast was for snow in the afternoon. As such we got out as early as possible. We walked the distance to Ladybank Grove around 11:25, and as we turned the corner we saw that the bus was already waiting at the stop. Matthew took a quick picture before we jumped aboard.

First Potteries 40304 in Blurton

We did the bus to Hanford so we could get some Wrights mini sausage rolls. As we got off Matthew got another picture of this bus.

40304 in Hanford

after getting off the bus and purchasing sausage rolls, we headed down Mayne Street and onto the A34 to wait for the Stafford bus. We had just missed one service so we had to wait best part of 20 minutes for the next bus to turn up. Whilst we waited we saw 40383/60011/61246 working on Trentham services. Mum called to say she was back home, and that she was heading into Stafford to meet us later. Eventually, required 65040 turned up and matthew got his picture.

First Potteries 65040 in Hanford

Whilst on the bus South it started to Snow. We reached Stafford station just before 13:00 and as there was a 13:00 departure to the County showground we didn't have time for another picture of 65040 at Stafford. As we approached we had seen the the 13:00 service was Martyn Hearson and Tim Machin's Berresford liveried bus EDJ 244J. We have been on this bus before but we had not got a recorded journey on it so we counted it as a score! We raced across the road and jumped on the bus, making sure we gave a donation as we got on.

Berresfords EDJ 244J outside Stafford station

We boarded the bus and the bus was fired up. It was a very throaty sounding vehicle. The bus was a really nice ride especially out on the open road towards the county showground. The driver really gave it some wellie and the bus roared through the Staffordshire countryside. We arrived at the county showground and as the bus emptied out Matthew got his inside shot.

Inside EDJ 244J

The bus driver was telling another passenger that there was going to be an hour break in the service so that the drivers could get their legal breaks. The next bus out was going to be the double decker we could see in the distance in a matter of minutes! Matthew quickly took his picture before we ran around the corner to the waiting double decker.

EDJ 244J at the Stafford county showground

We got to the bus and the driver wasn't in the cab...yet. This bus was required. We had often seen it work at bus rallies, but had never been on it before. Matthew was able to get a good picture.

PMT NEH 466 at the Stafford county showground

We got on the bus, throwing some coins in the donation box as we climbed the stairs. The bus has a weird "4 seats in a row" seating arrangement. We managed to squeeze on the end of three rows upstairs and the bus very quickly started up and was off. Some passenger were turned away from this service so in one respect we were very lucky. The journey wasn't as pleasant as the one out. There was a lot of traffic and the windows were steamed up. The snow was really coming down by now. as we traveled back, as we were near the back of the bus, Matthew got a picture of the stairs.

Inside NEH 466

Eventually we hit town. When we got to the station everybody got out and Matthew got a couple more pictures of this old PMT bus.

NEH 466 outside Stafford station

We had asked Matthew if he wanted to go back to the car at this point and he said no. The plan at this point was to get some hot food so we walked through the snow to the chip shop by the windmill. It was just gone 14:00 and the chip shop was closed. We carried on to Chell Street whilst we decided what to do. The bus on the end of the Westward bound row was Arriva Midlands 2307. Matthew got a picture from across the road.

Arriva Midlands 2307 in Chell Street

At this point we decided to catch this bus as this batch of Arriva Midlands Darts with the Burgundy coloured seat are some of Matthews favourites, and it was cold! We crossed the road and booked to a point near the end of the route. As the bus emptied out towards the rear Matthew got a picture of the inside.

Inside 2307

At a pint near the end of it's circular run, i got up and booked tickets back into Stafford. At this point we decided to call it a day. I rang mum and arranged to meet her by Sainsbury's. We stayed on the bus past the bus station thinking that the bus would go back along Chell Street and form the next #8 bus. What we didn't know at the time is that when the #8 passes North through the town it becomes the #10 ad carries on North! As we sailed past the end of Chell Street we got up to get off at the next stop. The next stop is about 1/4 mile North so when we got off we were going to have a long walk back. Matthew got a picture of this beast as it sped off into the distance.

2307 on the A34 North of Stafford

We jogged back into town with the snow blowing into our faces. It was quite a refreshing walk back. As we turned the corner into Chell Street we saw an Arriva Midlands Volvo B10 3605. Matthew got a picture of this in a very snowy Chell Street.

Arriva Midlands 3605 in Chell Street

Back at the car we drove North up the A34 to the chip shop. This was incidentally about 30 yards from where we got off the last bus! We filled up with chips and whilst we sat adjacent to the road admired the Military Tank parked up opposite. We then continued North home-wards. As we had a friend in the car today we took a different route home than usual via Barlaston and Wedgwood. Firstly, mum nearly missed the turning and when she braked the car slid, stopping just short of the central reservation. As we drove between Barlaston and Wedgwood, we turned a corner with a slight camber on the road and we slid and ended up facing the wrong way on the road! We did manage to get home without further incident, and we got home a little before 16:00. Incidentally Stoke lost 0-1 to Sunderland after having a man controversially sent off and Sunderland Taking advantage in the second half. We did have a go at them but the bad weather and luck just weren't with us today, at least where football is concerned. With buses and staying alive we faired a lot better...Mark

Trip to St Helens 21-01-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
7559	St Helens BS	Eccleston, adj Knowles House Avenue	35	Arriva NW&W
677	Eccleston, adj Millwood Avenue	St Helens BS	35	Arriva NW&W
2102	St Helens BS	Burnage Avenue, Four Acre Lane	32	Arriva NW&W
2702	Burnage Avenue, Four Acre Lane	St Helens BS	33	Arriva NW&W

Matthew has been away for a few days in respite and we didn't plan a trip this weekend. Having given Matthew a choice of places for today, Matthew chose St Helens We have never been before so we did not have much time to do research. Research consisted of a quick look up of directions for St Helens (just off the M6), and a quick look on the Merseytravel website. We saw that there was a travel office and it was open on Saturdays so we knew we could buy Saveaway tickets and get timetables. We set of around 11:30 today on a sunny but very old and windy day. We traveled out via The incinerator at Sideway and we also picked up LPG at Longport. Setting off North, we joined the M6 and traveled up to the A580. We decided to stop at Haydock on the way in and stop a chip shop. Using an App on her phone, mum located the chip shop as we traveled in. The Crisp E Cod in Haydock is situated just of the A580, and also on the bus route for the #20/#320 too. We had Small Fish and Peas twice and Chips, Sausage and Gravy twice. Along with 3 cans of pop it came to around £11. We sat and ate the chips in the car and watched the buses go past. There was a variety of buses including Scanias, pulsars and Volvo B10's. The fish was very nice and so were the peas! After eating we carried on into St Helens along the A58, parking up in the car park near the bus station around 13:10. When we got into town we purchase some Saveaway tickets, picked up a few timetables and then had a quick toilet stop. whilst passing the bus station we saw Arriva NW&W 1049. We then headed into the bus station and we saw 7559 & 7564 a Dart on a #35 services We decided to do 7559 to Gillars Green. We booked to the end and when we reached there a short time later, Matthew got a picture of the inside of the bus. We had passed 7559 on the way up too...

Inside Arriva NW&W 7559 at Gillars Green

We got off and Matthew got a picture of the outside too..

7559 at Gillars Green

As we had caught the #35 we had an approximate wait of 20 minutes. We had decided that if was something good we would go to St Helens Junction station, else we would get off back at the bus station. If Required, the next bus was going to be Matthew's 100th recorded Arriva NW&W bus, so we were hoping it was going to be something good. It turned out to be a Solo.. 677!

100! Arriva NW&W 677 at Gillars Green

I had tried to get Mathew to do a Peter Couch style celebration, but he wasn't interested :-). Anyway, we decided to go back just as far as St Helens bus station. On the way we passed 7571. When we arrived Matthew got another picture.

677 in St Helens Bus Station

At this point we were looking for something else to do. We knew 7571 was coming in Shortly. I went to get a St Helens bus map which I forgot to pick up before and Matthew took some more pictures. When I came out we saw 7650 arrive back in town.

7650 in St Helens Bus Station

We then saw 7571 arrive on a St Helens Junction bound service.

7571 in St Helens Bus Station

We were about to catch 7571 when Matthew spotted a wrinkly (original) Dart on a 32 to Clockface. We walked over to the bus and seeing it was required 2102 we got on. After asking the driver about the frequency, we booked to Clockface as there was a bus at least every 20 minutes depending on where we got off. After a short journey we appeared to passed the end point as the driver changed the blind. so we got off. Matthew took a picture of the rear step as we got off, also showing the blue Smartie seat moquette.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2102 at Clockface

As we got off Matthew got a picture of the outside.

2102 on Burnage Avenue

Consulting the bus stop timetable there didn't seem to be a #32 return from here. There was however a 10 minute frequency #33 back to town. We had a few minute so we crossed the road to look at the other stop. This stop had no information so we weren't sire if it was in use. Back at the original stop after a short while required Volvo B10 2702 appeared.

2702 on Burnage Avenue

We did this bus back which seemed to take a similar route back into town as the #32. We immediate passed a reverse #33 which was a Scania. The bus emptied out as we entered town bus as it is a through service somebody got on. As we got off Matthew took a picture of the inside of the nearly empty bus,

Inside 2702

He then got a picture of the outside of 2702 in the bus station.

2702 in St Helens Bus Station

We also saw Arriva NW&W Dennis Dart 2274. No trip to St Helens would be complete without a picture of one of their Scanias. 1061 was seen on a #34 as we got off in the bus station

1061 in St Helens Bus Station

It was now around 15:40 and it was very cold and windy. We headed back to the car taking pictures as we went. There were sausage rolls waiting for us of course! We set of around 15:45 and just caught the last minute of the First half of the Stoke game on the Radio. Back onto the A580, we were on the M6 in no time. We saw coach MIB 246 on the M6. We got off the M6 at junction 15 and headed South down the A500, passing near The Britannia Stadium we listened as Stoke came back into the game, and then lost in the dying seconds to West Brom. We stopped in Blurton for lottery tickets and pop and we got home just before 17:00...Mark

Trip to the West Midlands Safari Park 15-01-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	John St, Hanley	West Midlands safari Park	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	West Midlands safari Park	John St, Hanley	Charter	Aiming High

Today to Matthew went to Kidderminster and the West Midlands Safari Park with Aiming High.First Midlands Whittle We He got Bus Timetables in Worcestershire then we arrived in Hanley just before 10:00 so uncle Dave was also there. could get a few bus pictures. Whilst we were waiting Ex First Manchester Volvo 66842 appeared.

First Potteries 66842 in Hanley

Followed shortly by Ex Glasgow and Chester 61246.

First Potteries 61246 in Hanley

Adding a splash of colour was a Scraggs Blue bus...56.

Scraggs 56 in Hanley

Eventually the minibus turned up. It was Aiming High FJ10 BJX

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Hanley

The route was Lewis YJI 5279 also there.on the Port Talbot and Matthew spotted this straight away! As soon as he got off our coach he ran and jumped on the other! which they took was to head down the A500 and then to get on the M6 and head South. They then went onto the M5 at junction 8. The last few miles were done along the A456 until they reached there destination. During the trip Matthew saw 40805 and He took a few pictures if the animals at the Safari park.

View from the minibus...

An unidentified enclosure...

One of the enclosures...

An aquatic mammal...

Seal or Sealion...?

A dangerous reptile...

Croc or Gator with a flaming tail!

He also saw 42455 and 67244 on the way out too. They called Sainsbury's on the way out of town to use the and to buy Cornflake cakes and a bottle of Coke. and a Cheesecake.wakle bus station The journey back saw 1648 a reverse of the the outward journey down. Past the Shell garage. North along the A456 until they reached the M5. Travel North until they reach the M6 and then up to junction 15 for the A500. He eventually returned to Hanley a little after 16:00. We went to get some to pick up and then drove home. We saw M283 BLD then got tea from the chip shop on Smithpool Road before going home...Mark

Trip to Crewe and Sandbach 14-01-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3330	Crewe BS	Sandbach o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W
4489	Sandbach o/s Common	Haslington opp Oakland Avenue	38	Arriva NW&W
3331	Haslington nr Oakland Avenue	Elworth nr railway station	37	Arriva NW&W
861	Elworth adj railway station	Sandbach o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W

Today we had planned on going Crewe, but the intention was to catch a #85 from Hanley to Crewe. I had misread a post on the Staffordshire and Merseyside bus group saying that the D&G Crewe to Newcastle service was being extended to Hanley from the 13th January, when in fact it was down as changing on 13th February. By this time Matthew had got is heart set on going to Crewe anyway! Having been to both Crewe and Northwich Last year, we decided to cover buses on the Crewe to Sandbach corridor. Preperation for the trip consisted of printing out the 31,37 and 38 timetables plus a map of these 3 routes from the Arriva site. After a bit of a hiccup, we set off for Crewe around 12:45. Arriving around 13:30 we parked up in the car park on Delamere Street and walked over to the bus station. We saw a couple of #84's and the spare at Crewe and these were all Plaxton Centros. What has happened to the Winsord allocated Cadets? Also seen at this point were D&G 27 on a local service and D&G 172. Before we traveled, we decided to have dinner at Les's Fish Bar. We all ate and drank and it came to around £17. After a quick toilet stop we headed back to the bus station to see what was working. There were 2 different services to Northwich just after 14:00. There was a 14:01 #31A and a 14:17 #37. As we got to the bus station, recent arrival to Winford 3330 came in on the #37. We decided to do this as it was required, and it would be only the second of this type we have ridden on. The bus parked on stand and the driver went for a quick break. Whilst we waited, Matthew got a picture of this fine bus.

Arriva NW&W 3330 in Crewe bus station

As we left I looked up what possible bus we could do next. We were scheduled to pass an inbound #38 from Macclesfield. The plan was that if it was an old double decker that we could get off and wait for it by the railway station and then do it back towards Macclesfield. As it approached we could see it was one of the 3 brand new double deckers allocated to Winsford. We passed the bus and it was required 4491. As it was a new bus we decided to stick with the one that we were on and travel further North. I worked out that the next bus we would pass was a #37 a couple of minutes out of Sandbach. Behind that by 18 minutes would be the next #38 to Crewe. It was decided that we would go to Sandbach Common and if we passed a good bus coming from Northwich on the #37, we could catch the following #38 and intercept it just outside Crewe on it's return. As we approached the roundabouts in Sandbach we could see it was another Palatine II like the bus that we were on. It was required 3331 so we were definately getting off to catch it on it's return. As we pulled into the Common, Matthew got a picture of the top deck as we filed off the bus.

Inside 3330

Getting off the bus, We decided that we could get a better picture than the one we took at Crewe...

3330 at Sandbach Common

We now had a 18 minute wait. We decided to fill the time with a it of shopping. We walked over to the local McColl's shop and brought some pop, a chocolate bar and Lottery Tickets. After doing our shopping we walked back to the Commom. D&G 64 was seen on a Nantwich to Rode Heath Service.

D&G 64 at Sandbach Common

The next bus in was a #319. I didn't even know where a #319 went to let alone who operated it! It eventually turned up and it was a very smart looking GHA Solo...

GHA S280 AOX at Sandbach Common

We then had 5 minutes before the #38 to Crewe was due. I guessed it would be one of the new ADL Enviro 400's and I was not wrong. It was required 4489.

Arriva NW&W 4489 at Sandbach Common

We got on the bus and worked out how far we could go. The buses would pass somewhere between The railway station and the bus station at Crewe. With the road by the railway station being very busy and the next section of road being a dual carriageway, I decided to get of at the Crewe end of Haslington by Oakland Avenue. It's a stop that we have been before when I used to take Matthew out on my own but didn't want to take him into Crewe. We got off and we had about 15 minutes to wait for the return bus. It wasn't too bad in the cold but very sunny afternoon. There should have been a #20 to Hanley First, so we stood on the green so we could get a better picture of it when it turned up. The # 20 was due at 15:22 and the #37 due at 15:26. Whilst we waited we saw 2 #20's head into Crewe. First was Potteries 60081 and this was followed 5 minuets later by Potteries 60196 which took a bizarre right turn down Primrose Avenue! Eventually our bus turned up a few minute late with a First bus right behind it.

Arriva NW&W 3331 in Haslington

We got on the bus and it was 3331 as was expected. It was quite full which explained the delay as it must of taken a while to load up at Crewe. We now had to decide where to catch the bus to and where we were going to meet up with mum. I decided that if we did the bus up to Sandbach Railway station, we could ride back to Sandbach on the shorter #37 Northwich to Sandbach service. That would take us to 4 buses for the day, and would be a good place to finish. I tried to call mum as we went through Haslington and Wheelock, but the signal was poor. She eventually called Uncle Dave back and we arranged to meet back at the Commom. We passed the next #37 and this was a Plaxton Centro so of no interest at this point in time. I had misread the timetable and I thought we were going for a dead time at Sandbach Station. We got off the bus at 15:52 and Matthew took a quick picture before we crossed the road.

3331 by Sandbach Station

We quickly crossed and headed to the stop. I check on the stop timetable and the bus wasn't due until 16:01. At this point we didn't know what was going to show up. Winsford has an allocation of around 50 buses and we have been on very few from this depot despite it being our closest Arriva NW&W depot. We thought it Could be a double decker, a Marshall bodied Dart or even a Plaxton Centro. The bus tuned the corner and we could see it was a Plaxton bodied Dart. As it got closer we could see it was dud 861 which we had travelled on on our last trip to Northwich. The bus was empty and Matthew took a picture as we boarded.

Inside Arriva NW&W 861

I think this bus must have swapped ready for the evening service. As it seemed to be a small vehicle for this service. about 5 minutes later we arrived back at the Common. direction and she just happened be on the Common. We got off and were able to get a good picture here.

861 at Sandbach Common

Mum had tried to follow the directions for Sandbach Common on her GPS but it wasn't there. She stopped to call us for directions and she just happened to have stopped on the Common next to 4489 on the #38 to Macclesfield. She could even hear us in the background. We walked over to the car and headed home. I drove NW to the M6 and then we traveled down to the A500. We listened to the Stoke match (away to Liverpool )as we traveled home and it was 0-0 still. We stopped at Longport for LPG and then drove home. We arrived home just before 17:00 and the result stayed at 0-0... Mark.