| Bus | From | To | Service | Operator |
| 40159 | Ladybank Grove, Blurton | Hanley BS | 23A | First Potteries |
| 185 | Hanley BS | Smallthorne, Hadfield Green (adj) | 9 | Bakerbus |
| 60011 | Smallthorne, Hadfield Green (adj) | Hanley BS | 29 | First Potteries |
| BK10 MGV | Hanley BS | Preston Street (Opp) | 9 | Bakerbus |
| 186 | Preston Street (adj) | Hanley BS | 9 | Bakerbus |
| 60201 | Hanley BS | Newcastle BS | 34 | First Potteries |
| 40137 | Newcastle BS | Tunstall, Highgate (opp) | 99 | First Potteries |
| 40147 | Tunstall, Woodland Street stop C | Longport, Longport Road (adj) | 99 | First Potteries |
Today we decided to do a local trip, with the main intention of trying to get a ride on the Bakerbus loaned double deckers before they return home. During the week these usual work the X1 service, but lately on Saturdays they have turned out on the #9 service. I purchased a 'Smart Day' from a local shop and then we walked all the way up to the Ladybank Grove stop to wait for a Hanley bus. After a very short wait 40159 rounded the corner. We have not been on this bus for a long time and such it had been recorded in his list.
40159 in Blurton on a 23A (Matt)
The bus was empty when we got on and so Matthew got his empty shot straight away!
Inside 40159 (Matt)
The journey to Hanley was quiet and uneventful and when we reached Hanley We went up onto the balcony to assess the situation. there was one of the bakerbus double deckers parked up but it was not being used at the time. I went to the travel office to get some timetables. The small office with all the timetables was closed, so I was only able to pick up some First Timetables. On the way back I checked the times of the #9's and #61's. There was a #9 due off at 13:40 and it was already on stand. The bus was Bakerbus 185 and it was required.
Bakerbus 185 in Hanley on a #9 service (Matt)
We decided to do this to Smallthorne in the hope of getting on the return service. As we got off Bakerbus 196 was on the opposite side of the road pulling off! Matthew got another picture of 185 as it was about to pull off.
185 in Smallthorne (Matt)
We crossed the road and I used the text service to find out the next bus. The next bus was going to be a First #29 in about 3 minutes. Almost as soon as I had texted, 60011 rounded the corner. This was not required, but as this bus has been out of service and was nearly withdrawn it was an interesting one.
60011 in Smallthorne (Matt)
The bus was sounding a little rough, and one of the window seals had blown, but we have have seen and heard much worse! As we turned into Hanley bus station we expected to see 196 on stand, but this had been replaced by the double decker! We quickly transferred from one to the other as they were only a couple of stands apart. We got on and this time booked to the top of smallthorne so we could catch a #9 back. We went upstairs and were the only people on the top deck. At this point Matthew got a picture of the empty bus.
Inside demonstrator BK10 MGV (Matt)
The journey was very smooth and quiet expect for Matthew making a noise. As we got off Matthew was able to get a picture of the bus.
BK10 MGV in Smallthorne (Matt)
We crossed the road eventually having fought our way through the busy traffic. After a very short while bakerbus 186 rounded the corner. Not a double decker but still required.
Bakerbus 186 in Smallthorne (Matt)
We did this back to Hanley and when we arrived Matthew took a picture of the empty interior.
Inside 186 (Matt)
At this point we decided to have a break from the buses and eat some chips. I went down to Tony's place and got 2 portions of chips which we promptly finished off. As we were eating step entranced Wardle Transport Dennis Dart 2038 arrived and I hought we were going to catch this but Matthew changed his mind.
Wardle Transport 2038 on a service #61 (Matt)
He directed us towards required 60072 on a #34A. By the time we got down to it it pulled away so Matthew decided he want to do unrequired 60201 on the following #34.
60201 on a #34 in Hanley bus station (Matt)
we did the bus to Newcastle and at this point he decided to misbehave a little. We decided to do required 40137. This Ex Chester bus is the last of the batch allocated locally that he needed.
40137 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)
on the way out of town we passed Bakerbus 215 on a #94A service. We did the bus to Tunstall at which point he was able to get another picture of these beast.
40137 in Tunstall (Matt)
After that we had a few minutes in Tunstall High street. The following service on the same corridor was worked by ALX200 40142.
40142 in Tunstall (Matt)
With 40137 already head back towards Newcastle, the next bus back was likely to be another ALX Dart and indeed it was. required 40147 appeared.
40147 in Tunstall (Matt)
At this point we formulated a plan to get home. We called mum to meet us at the BP garage in Longport so we could be picked up and we could also pick up some LPG at the same time. When we alighted from the bus in Longport, Matthew got another picture.
40147 in Longport (Matt)
We saw another couple of buses whilst we waited. 40148 was heading away from Newcastle and 40151 was heading towards Newcastle. we also saw Wardle Transport 2410 on a Britannia stadium shuttle. When mum arrived we filled up with LPG and then headed home. We got caught slightly in football traffic and saw 40007 doing #22's. also seen was Bakerbus 163 on #350's. not a bad day out today, made better with 43437, a well fought draw with Manchester United afterwards...Mark
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