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