Trip on the Wardle Transport running day 12-05-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2963	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Hanley BS	Plumline	Wardle Transport
4622	Hanley BS	Bradeley, adj Moorland View	61	Arriva Midlands
4545	Bradeley, opp Moorland View	Hanley BS	61	Wardle Transport
4687	Hanley BS	Wardle Transport garage, Adderley Green	Charter	Wardle Transport
4891	Wardle Transport garage, Adderley Green	Hanley BS	Charter	Wardle Transport
4547	Hanley BS	Tunstall, adj Asda superstore	61	Wardle Transport
4547	Tunstall, adj Asda superstore	Hanley BS	61	Wardle Transport
60196	Hanley BS	Cross Heath, Swift House	34	First Potteries

Today was the double decker running on the #61 service. We have know about this for a month or so and so it has been marked in our calender for some time. As it was a local trip not much research was carried out. We brought a copy of Buses magazine as there was an advert about the event, although the advert was quite vague about what was happening regarding the shuttle service to the depot. we also checked the times of the #61 service on Saturdays, and the times of our local Wardle service to Hanley, which is the Plumline. News had come through in the week that Arriva Midlands 4622 was coming up from Oswestry depot on a feeder service for the event. 4622 is A bus that is mainly confined to schools work. I was up very early today, and it was a fine sunny morning. I opened Matthew's curtain early around 08:00. the early he got up, the more buses we could ride on. The First Plumline service was at 08:40, and this made it on to the second departure from Hanley. Matthew got up around 09:00, and so after breakfast we made it on to the second Plumline at 09:40. The bus was 2963, dedicated bus for the service in the Plum coloured livery. This was only the second time we had been on this bus, the first being on 05/12/2008 5 days into the new service. We booked a Wardle Day ticket, and apparently it was the first one the driver had ever sold! We set off to Hanley picking up quite a few more passengers on the way. We picked up another enthusiast at the railway station and the driver sold another Wardle Day ticket. We arrived in Hanley around 10:10 and we actually saw the 10:00 departure disappearing towards Tunstall although we didn't know at the time. So we now had around 50 minutes to wait, which we spent on the balcony watching and photographing buses. the time passed quite quickly, Arriva Midlands 4701 arrived, on what I can only assume was another feeder service from the Leicester area. Just before 11:00 required 4622 arrived, but I wasn't sure if it was from the depot or directly from Oswestry.

Arriva Midlands 4622 in Hanley bus station

We went down to the bus station and it was obvious it was being made ready for service. The ticket machines were being swapped over from an Arriva to Wardle one. A couple of minutes later the bus started to load. At the wheel was non other than Robert Thompson, owner of of Dart DRN116. we had a very quick chat before I chased Matthew up the stairs. There were a handful of regular passengers and 20 plus bus enthusiasts. Upstairs the bus was filled with the sound of bus related chat. We had found out that required Wardle tri-axle Volvo 4545 had gone out on the 10:00, so we knew if we got off part way we could get it back into Hanley. After around 20 or so minutes on the bus we got off in Bradeley, and Matthew got another picture of this fine beast!

4622 in Bradeley

We got off the bus and it started to rain a little. We also saw step entranced Volvo B6 Bakerbus 227 on a #9 to Biddulph. We then crossed over to the stop, After a few minutes we saw 4545 head into Bradley village, and then re-appear a couple of minutes later. Matthew got a picture of required 4545 as I flagged it down.

Wardle Transport 4545 in Bradeley

We went upstairs in this very unusual vehicle. the sun came out again and we had a very pleasant journey back to Hanley. As we got off Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside 4545

when we got to Hanley we saw that the 12:00 from Hanley was going to be unrequired 4607, and 4545 was heading back to the depot. So we decided that we were going to stop for diner. We went to the tardis toilet at the end of the bus station. and we were walking back to the cafe when we saw another Wardle transport double decker. It was required 4687. i asked the driver where he was going, and he told us he was going to the depot only and so we jumped on. We went upstairs and it was virtually empty. Matthew got a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside Wardle Transport 4687

We did this to the depot, which is a good 15-20 minutes from Hanley. When we got there the few people that were on the bus got off.

4687 at the Wardle Transport garage

The yard had been split off, with the public being allowed in the front part of the yard. We found out that you could go in the yard if you sign into the office and if you wear a hi viz. We had one in the bag and we went to visit the office. Matthew use to be a fairly regular visit to this depot when it used to be D&G. He would come up about once a month with Outreach and have a look around the yard. after he had a bit of an explore around the office we got extra hi viz jacket and went around the yard. He took pictures of the buses inside and out, he also went in to see his usual college vehicle 1450, which was having some work done on it. Whilst we were in the depot tri-axle Volvo 4547 went off to work the 13:00 from Hanley. After finishing around the depot we waited for the next service back to Hanley. as we had not yet had dinner, we broke into our emergency rations pack, which had a double milky way and a very squashed Toffee Crisp. We also had a small bottle of limeade too. Eventually Wardle 4891 was started up to work to Hanley. As we waited Arriva Midlands 4622 arrived and seemed to bring in quite a few people to the depot. required 4891 pulled up in the front part of the yard and we got on it. Matthew took a picture of the top deck.

Inside Wardle Transport 4891

When we got off we now had chance to do dinner. the 14:00 was 4891 and we had just been on that. We went to Tony's cafe and we had breakfast's and uncle Dave had a sausage sandwich. After dinner we had around 30 minutes to wait for the 15:00 departure. We knew required 4547 was on it's way back from Tunstall, but it was unlikely to work the #61 again when it got back. We st on the balcony in the afternoon sun just watching the buses. Eventually 4547 arrived back from Tunstall. It still had the Tunstall card in the front window so perhaps it would go again? We went down the stairs to the bus station and before long it started to load. We knew it was the #61 as there were normals getting on and using their bus passes. Arriva Midlands 4622 arrived from the depot with a load more passengers. As we were getting on the driver was speaking to someone through the window about which bus was going to Tunstall. Apparently, the 15:00 should have been Arriva Midlands 4701 and the driver was to swap over the machines so he could issue tickets. however the driver had sai that he hadn't been told and he had loaded up with passengers. We were glad 4547 was going again, as AM 4701 is a much newer bus and we will probably have a chance to get this bus another time. As we went upstairs Matthew got a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside Wardle Transport 4547

The plan was now to go to Bradeley, come back on WT , and then cover the last #61 from Hanley. When we got to Bradeley Matthew decided that he didn't want to get off, and so we went on to Tunstall. As we got off, Matthew got a picture of 4547 in Tunstall.

4547 in Tunstall

we now about 30 minutes to kill, and so we walked up the hill to the public, toilets. On the way back we went to an ice cream van in the Matalan car that we had spotted on the way up. We then got back to the bus and Matthew was getting a bit restless. it had been a long day. So we go back on the bus ans sat upstairs and waited for time. it was boiling hot on the bus. It had no opening windows and the air con didn't feel like it was working. We got a can of pop out of the emergency supplies to try and cool down. Eventually 16:10 came around and we set off. The plan was now to go back to Hanley and then catch a bus to somewhere so that mum could meet us. At Bradeley we passed the 16:00 from Hanley and it was required WT 4692. that was slightly disappointing but at least we had got everything else that we want that worked today. When we got to Hanley we went up to the balcony we need to pick a bus to somewhere and then make a call. Matthew suggested 60013 on a #34A, but as we started to go towards it, it pulled off. We then saw 60196 come in and lay over for a short while. It was displaying #34, and so I thought this would be a good time to pick of another NE Scania. When the bus came onto stand we walked down to it and Matthew got a picture.

First PMT 60196 in Hanley bus station

As we sat down we could see the seat were like new and so this must have been a recent internal refurb. We had booked to Cross Heath, as we thought this would be a good place to meet mum. When we got to Newcastle bus station, Matthew want to get off, but we had already arranged to meet mum. Newcastle bus station isn't really well suited to Matthew as it is a long and very thin glass tube. It is hard at most times, but at 17:20 on a Saturday it would just be too difficult. A few minutes later we were at Cross Heath and we got off. Matthew got another picture of this bus after we had alighted.

60196 in Cross Heath

Mum had parked up around the corner, and as we walked back to the car I spotted a take away. Matthew jumped in the car and I decided to get him a small fries to keep him going until our late tea. We headed back through, Hempstalls Skirted Newcastle and joined onto the Southbound A500 in Shelton. We arrived home a little after 18:00 after a very long day. We then had our tea for sausages and mash and carrots gravy...Mark