Trip to Shrewsbury 17-10-2009

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2098	Tesco, Harlescott	English Bridge, Shrewsbury	26	Arriva Midlands
2353	Pump House	Shrewsbury BS	24	Arriva Midlands
6001	Shrewsbury BS	Pump House	544	Arriva Midlands
2275	Pump House	Shrewsbury BS	25	Arriva Midlands
2308	Shrewsbury BS	The Mount, Copthorne Road	1	Arriva Midlands
291	The Mount, Copthorne Road	Shelton Hospital	75	Tanat Valley
2308	Shelton Hospital	Shrewsbury BS	1	Arriva Midlands
2248	Shrewsbury BS	Tesco, Harlescott	26	Arriva Midlands

Matthew had indicated in the week that he wanted to go to Shrewsbury. Mum had been to college on the Thursday to see Matthew using an iPod Touch and software as a communication aid. When asked where Matthew would like to go, he typed "pub" into the iPod. Mum said he go go the a pub on saturday, and he typed "Sat town". Mum reeled off a list of some of the places he usually goes to and when mum said "Shrewsbury", Matthew repeated it back to her. Having made that decision on Thursday, I did some research on buses and times and also to see if Shrewsbury Town were playing at home. Shrewsbury were at home to Dagenham & Redridge, so I knew there would be few extra buses around on the Prostar Stadium park & ride services. Setting off a fraction before 12:00, first stop was to be a pub in order for us all to have lunch. We choose the Elephant and castle pub in Shawbury, just a few Miles north of Shrewsbury. After dinner we continued South to the Harlescott Park & Ride car park where we parked up. Today we decided to catch a service bu rather than do the Park and ride service. We walked down to the back of Tesco which was the Terminus of the #26 service. After a short wait, a required step entranced bus appeared which was Arriva Midlands Dennis Dart 2098. We all got on the bus and booked to Shrewsbury town centre. We did the bus into town and stopped in Castle Street. At this point we were expect the bus to go around town and into the bus station. What we didn't know at the time is that this service doesn't call in the bus station in this direction! As the bus headed down toward the English Bridge we started to realised that this was the case and we decided to get off. Matthew got a picture as the bus carried on it's journey.


2098 on the English bridge (Matt)

At this point we decided to cross the bridge and catch a bus back towards Shrewsbury. We headed out of town and under the railway bridge. As we could not see a stop straight on we decided to turn right. We couldn't see a bus stop here either, but as we passed a road on the right we could see a stop adjacent the river back underneath the railway. At the stop dud Arriva Midlands 2353 after a short while so we decided to do this back to the bus station anyway.


2353 by the pump house (Matt)

Back at the bus station we saw Tanat Valley 291 which intended to do later. Whilst we waited for the bus to work, Matthew took a few pictures. One picture was of Arriva Midlands 2307. Matthew likes this particular batch of buses because of the dark red seat moquette.


2307 in Shrewsbury bus station (Matt)

As we still had more time to wait, we decided to do a quick out and back across the English Bridge again. Matthew decided we were going to do Shropshire CC liveried Arriva Midlands Optare Solo 6001 which was on the #544 to Little Lyth. Back on the other side of the bridge, Matthew took a picture of Arriva Midlands 2308 on a #1 service.


2308 by the pump house (Matt)

After a short while, required Arriva Midlands 2275 appeared, and we did this back to the bus station. The plan was to now get on Tanat 291, but Matthew had spotted that required Arriva Midlands 2308 was still in the bus station. We worked out that we could do this bus up to Copthorne and do Tanat 291 forward to the hospital. As we boarded 2308 Matthew got a picture inside this bus.


Inside 2308(Matt)

We did 2308 over the Welsh Bridge to the Barracks and then got off. After a short while, as expected Tanat 291 appeared on service #75.


Tanat Valley 291 opposite Copthorne Barracks (Matt)

We got on and did this a few stops up the road up to the hospital. We then crossed the road to wait for a bus back to shrewsbury. We weren't sure if the next bus back would be 2308, but as we were near the end of the route we knew that there might be a good chance. Sure enough after a few minutes, 2308 reappeared.


2308 Shelton Hospital (Matt)

We did the short trip back to the bus station and then we decided it was time to go home. We met back up with mum and we waited for the #26 to Harlescott. The bus back was required Arriva Midlands 2248. When we got back to Harlescott, Matthew gt a good picture.


2248 Behind Tesco Harlescott (Matt)

back at Tesco we returned to the car. On the way back we listened to the Stoke vs West ham match in the car. We stopped in Shawbury for chips on the way home, arriving back around dusk...Mark

Trip to Oswestry 05-09-2009

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
214	Oswestry BS	Morda	D71	Tanat Valley
266	Morda	Llynclys	445	Tanat Valley
268	Llynclys	Oswestry BS	445	Tanat Valley
2367	Oswestry BS	Whittington LC	70	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to have a Tanat Bash. We had out first Tanat Valley bus in Shrewsbury a few weeks before. Planning consist of printing out a few timetables for the area. we set off and went via the A53, Blackbrook, the A51, A525 Whitchurch and then via Ellesmere. We parked up near the museum and we walked around looking for somewhere to eat. We ended up eating in somewhere called The Plaice in Salop Road, but I can't remember what we ate or how much it cost. As we came out matthew got a picture of a #70 service, being worked by 2367. this was just after 13:00


2367 on an inward bound #70 service in Oswestry (Matt)

we then went back to the bus station and Matthew took picture in and around whilst we waited for the D71 service which we planned to catch. In the bus station Matthew photographed this dart out of the same batch as the buses as the one he photographed earlier.


2378 in Oswestry bus station on a #2 service (Matt)

he also got a picture of 214 which we assumed would be the bus that was going to work the D71


Tanat Valley 214 awaits time before working the D71 service (Matt)

Tanat Valley 266, a Leyland Lynx also came in. we worked out from the timetabels that we could do 214 part way and then do 266 forward to Llynclys. We would then have around 3 minutes for the bus back. It was a bit of a risk but we decided to take it! We boarded 214 and it was virtually empty as left the bus station. We went to the next stop and the bus filled up! When we got to a suitable point (it a was cross roads in a dip in the road) we bailed off and waited for the following bus. The wait seemed like a long time but eventually 266 appeared


Tanat Valley 266 on a #445 service (Matt)

We did the bus to The White lion in llynclys and we wasted no time in crossing the road to wait for the return. the pavement has a scree surface and distinctly remember matthew slipping as he tried to stop having run across the road. Within seconds the return bus turned up and it was Lynx 2 268. When we arrived back Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus.


Inside 268 (Matt)

When we arrived back we decided to call it a day. we met up with mum and worked out one last bus he could have done. he chose to do the #70 service and we worked out where we could do the bus to. Judging by the photograph and the photograph early, and taking into account the round trip time, we are 99% certain that this bus was Arriva Midlands 2367.


Arriva Midlands Route 70 branded bus almost certainly 2367 (Matt)

Matthew mum and uncle Dave did the bus whilst I drove the support vehicle. We arranged to meet and i thing there was a misunderstanding. I seem to remember wait outside a chip shop near Ellesmere and then having to drive back to Whittington level crossing to pick them up. The bus had spent a few minute in the depot as can be seen below.


Buses in Oswestry bus depot (Matt)

I then picked them up and we drove home. I seem to remember missing a turning and driving back via Nantwich and passing the bus station. Not a bad day and buses that most would kill for to ride on again...Mark

Trip to Werrington 06-08-2009

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
42	Bucknall, New Finney Gardens (adj)‎	Werrington PO (opp)	31	Scraggs

It was a Friday afternoon in the school holidays so we decide to take Matthew out for a meal. We decided to go to the New Finney Gardens as it had a beer garden, and was on a busy bus route. I remember the meals being 2 for one and with there being 3 of us it didn't work out as well as we hoped. Whilst we ate Matthew took photographs of many of the passing buses and when we find them we'll post them here... After the meal we walked to the nearest bus stop and waited for the Scraggs #31 service to Werrington. When the bus turned up it was Scraggs 42.


Scraggs 42 on a different occasion... (Mark)

We did the bus up ash bank, around the estate and we got off outside the post office in Werrington, where mum met us to take us home... Mark

Trip to Uttoxeter 30-07-2009

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2029	Uttoxeter BS	Sudbury, Portway Head	1	Arriva Midlands
2324	Sudbury, Portway Head	Uttoxeter BS	1A	Arriva Midlands
2049	Uttoxeter BS	The Heath, New Road (adj)	4	Arriva Midlands
2324	The Heath, New Road (adj)	Uttoxeter BS	4	Arriva Midlands
2043	Uttoxeter BS	Sudbury, Portway Head	1	Arriva Midlands
2390	Sudbury, Portway Head	Uttoxeter BS	1A	Arriva Midlands
65026	Uttoxeter BS	Werrington PO	32A	First Potteries

Originally, I'd taken the 29th of july off work, in order to take Matthew to Uttoxetter to travel on the 184 from Uttoxetter to Weston Coyney. Unfortunately it absolutely chucked it down all. At this point in time on Thursday I only worked until 12:30 so it was decided to take Matthew out on the 30th instead. Research consisted of downloading the Uttoxetter town map from the Staffordshire gov website and printing out a few timetables. Back home for around 12:45, we must have spent some time getting ready because we arrive in Uttoxetter around 14:00. One of the first buses we saw was Arriva Midlands 2049 on the #4 Outer Circle service...



2049 in Uttoxetter bus station on the #4 Outer Circle service (Matt)


Inside 2029 as we boarded on the Burton bus (Matt)


2029 departs Portway Head towards Burton (Matt)

In on coach Sudbury Burton 1A


2324 in Uttoxeter bus station (matt)

We then saw Arriva 2045 arrive to work a. Having looked at the timetable and seem a 30 minutes frequency, I asked the driver out long it took to travel out and back on this bus to which he replied "half an hour". So to keep Matthew occupied whilst waiting for the 409, we decided to do this bus to and Back.


2049 in Uttoxeter bus station again on the #4 Outer Circle service (Matt)



2049 disapears into the distance from the Tesco Express



2043 in Uttoxeter bus station (matt)

He also photographed a few other buses the best of which was sitting in the late afternoon sunshine. rolled up and we promptly boarded this bus for a brisk run up to Leek. At we had around 30 Minutes to kill, Matthew sat good as gold and ate sausage sandwiches!


2390 approches the Portway Head stop en route to Uttoxeter (Matt)

So Matthew had a short ride on 65026 back to Werrington. After this there was just time for him to buy £22.50's worth of photographs before returning to the car...

Trip to Crewe & Nantwich 27-07-2009

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
7647	Crewe BS	Nantwich BS	84A	Arriva NW&W
117	Nantwich BS	Crewe BS	45	D&G
7	Crewe BS	Parker Road	21	D&G
60063	Parker Road	Crewe BS	20	First Potteries
154	Crewe BS	Keele Village	85A	D&G

Matthew was in the middle of his, and we saw this as the perfect opportunity to take him to ride on the we drove to Crewe and parked in the Delamere street car park opposite the bus station. Mum went to do a bitt of shopping and we had arround 30 minutes in the bus station, in which Matthew took a few bus pictures.


7647 in Crewe bus station (Matt)


Inside 7647 (Matt)


D&G 117 in Nantwich bus station (Matt)


859 in Crewe bus station (Matt)


D&G 7 in Crewe bus station (Matt)


D&G 154 in Keele Village (Matt)

Details to follow...

Trip to Kidsgrove 22-05-2009

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
W591 YBN	Blurton	Chell Heath	Charter	Z carz
MIB 978	Chell Heath	Hanley	Charter	Copeland's Tours
MIB 978	Hanley	Chell Heath	Charter	Copeland's Tours
W591 YBN	Chell Heath	Blurton	Charter	Z carz
60183	Smallthorne, Robinson Avenue (opp)	Kidsgrove Town Centre, Queen Street (adj)	6	First Potteries

Matthew had his usual school transport LDV minibus W591 YBN, Whilst at school, he went to Hanley and back on Copeland's Tours Coach MIB 978. He then returned home on W591 YBN.

Back in this part of 2009, we spent a few Fridays after school driving to Smallthorne, where we could choose from a few different services for Matthew to catch. We caught either the 6,21A,29 or even a Bakers 9. On this occasion we set of as per usual after the bus dropped Matthew home from school. just before we arrived at the usual stop, we past a D&G bus on the A53.



D&G Optare Solo 71 on a #19 to hanley (matt)

When we arrived at the stop Matthew took several photos before he choose to ride on a bus...


Bakerbus 198 on a #9 to Biddulph (Matt)


First PMT 40165 on a #21A Ball Green (Matt)


First PMT 40014 (now allocated to Chester) on a 6A Biddulph (Matt)

Eventually, Matthew decided to catch the much travelled 60183 (formerly of Manchester and now allocated to Rock Ferry), with it's distinctive black 'W'.


60183 0n arrival in Kidsgrove town centre (Matt)

Shortly after this 60183 was transfered away... (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)