Trip to the POPS rally 13-05-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
198	Wedgwood	Longton BS	Special	PMT
198	Longton BS	Wedgwood	Special	PMT
62	Wedgwood	Trentham Gardens	Special	Stratford Blue
RM467	Trentham Gardens	Wedgwood	Special	London Transport
55	Wedgwood	Barlaston Green	Special	Bournemouth
A506 FSS	Barlaston Green	Wedgwood	Special	Northern Scottish
10	Wedgwood	Stone	Special	Turner's
10	Stone	Wedgwood	Special	Turner's

Today was the POPS rally, highlight of the North Staffordshire bus calender! We had always planned on being at this event, the Wardle double decker running day was an added bonus. I opened Matthew curtains around 09:00 revealing another fine sunny day. Matthew got up around 10:00 and we were ready just before 11:00. we picked up uncle Dave and then drove onto Wedgwood. When we arrived we brought a program and a local fleet list book. The first hour or so was spent looking at a few of the buses and Matthew was spending his money on books, DVD's and photos. Just before 12:00 we decided to catch a bus The Midland Red Olympian EEH 902Y was heading to Stone, and we just missed it. However behind that was PMT 198 on a mystery tour. The driver said it was going to take approximately 30 minutes and as we have yet to have this bus we decided to do it. We got on required 198 and off we went. the bus took the usual route to the A5035 then turned towards Trentham. We turned at Magdalen Road and then headed through Blurton along Beaconsfield Drive and onto Blurton Road. The bus actually went within a few hundred yards of our house! We then turned up Longton Hall Road and we guessed at this point it was probably going to the transport interchange at Longton. Sure enough we arrived in Longton and the driver said we could jump out and take a picture or two before returning. So we jumped out and did just that.

Mystery destination. PMT 198 in Longton

After getting back on, we rode back via Longton Hall Road, Blurton Road, Church Street, Trentham Road and back to Wedgwood. on the retun journey we worked out could either do required PMT 604 to Hanley (12:30) for dinner or we could required Routemaster RM467 to Trentham (12:35) for dinner. As we were approaching time was passing at it had gone 12:30, We passed 604 at the site entrance. As we turn toward the arrivals stop, we could see the Routemaster ready for departure. We got off and took a picture of PMT 198.

PMT 198 back at Wedgwood

By the time we got to the stop the bus had gone. as there was a small gap, Everyone sat down near the stop whilst i took the shopping back to the car. When I got back Straford blue 62 was at the depart stop. I look at the timetable and realised that this was the next Trentham. So I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this and he said yes. He took a quick shot of this required bus before we jumped on.

Statford Blue 62 at Wedgwood

We sat down over the offside rear axle and off we went. This is a very nice bus and was well filled with enthusiasts. This year the Trentham service was running to the drop off point for coaches by the retail village, as opposed to the old gate. This take a good mile off the journey as the return services used to have to run to Hanford to turn back to Wedgwood. I think if this continues it could be a good thing. It will save on fuel costs plus possibly get a few more passenger visit the event who have just come to Trentham for shopping. The buses when entering the site go around the outside of the car park before heading back to the coach drop off point. Straford 62 when along passed the car park and then turned back. As it turned it clipped the curb and made a loud bang as it dropped off. There then came a loud scraping noise from under the off side rear axle. I thought that perhaps it had tipped the curbstone and then dragged it along under the bus. When we stopped most people jumped out with a few going to inspect the bus. Matthew got off and took his picture.

62 at Trentham Gardens

As we were taking a few pictures, we heard someone saying that the exhaust had fallen off and was being dragged along. we decided it was time for dinner and a toilet stop. We headed to the riverside dinner and we ordered dinner. Matthew of course want a cake for afters too. I took a picture of him with a very chocolaty face as he tucked into a slice of fudge cake. We then walked back to the coach drop off point to wait for a return service. we photographed a couple of coaches before required RM467 appeared. Matthew got a picture before we boarded.

LT RM467 at Trentham Gardens

We climbed the stairs and we had an enjoyable trip back. It's nice to view the Staffordshire countryside from an elevated position on a double decker bus. As we traveled along, we passed PMT 860. I had looked for it on the timetable, but it wasn't supposed to be working. A closer look at the timetable revealed that it must have worked the 14:05 to Trentham, taking over from Stratford blue 62's duties!

RM467 at Wedgwood

When we got back mum went off to do a little birthday present shopping whilst we worked out what we could do. We thought that perhaps 860 would work Stratford Blue 62's next duty, which was the 15:00 to Stone. There was a Barlaston circular at 14:30. We could do this and still be back for 15:00 so we decided that this was going to be the move. the circular was going to be Bournemouth 55 & Northern Scottish A506 FSS. we had been on A506 FSS when it was in Glovers colours, so we decided to do the required Bournemouth bus. If there was a stop in the middle, we could always swap. a few minutes later the 2 buses pulled up on the stop. we boarded Bournemouth 55 and off we went. We headed out towards rough close and then swung back into Barlaston, turning when we reached the village green pointing back towards Wedgwood. The buses did stop to allow for pictures and to allow passengers to swap between buses if desired. Matthew got a picture of Bournemouth 55.

Bournemouth 55 at Barlason Green

He took another one for good measure...

Bournemouth 55 at Barlason Green

Then he took one of Northern Scottish A506 FSS before we boarded it for the return journey.

Northern Scottish A506 FSS at Barlason Green

The journey back was down a narrow country lane that has speed bumps, is very dark due to being tree lined and is the same road in which we spun the car on ice back in February. The buses stopped under the tree for an addition driver change. Our bus was then driven past Bournemouth 55 for a photo on the same curve where we had spun the car. The buses then swapped over there order again and we drove back to Wedgwood

A506 FSS at Wedgwood

When we got back it was around 14:50 so we had a short wait for the Stone service. Matthew went on a few buses and took pictures before we saw Turners 10 pull up on stop. We asked the driver if this was going to Stone and it was. there was slight disappointment that it wasn't PMT 860, but it was nice to ride on this double decker again. The route out was via Trentham and the A34. turning into Stone from the roundabout just South of the town centre. There was a quick stop and we got off to take a picture.

Turner's 10 in Stone

We boarded the bus and after a minute or two we set off back North. The return journey was via the A520. we passed through Lightwood before turning by The New Florence towards Dresden. We then took the A5035 back to Blurton before turning left to wedgwood. When we got back Matthew took a further picture of this bus.

10 back at Wedgwood Stone

Back at Wedgwood buses were starting to leave and so we headed back to the car. As we drove uncle Dave back we put the Stoke match on the radio. Stoke were losing 1-2 to Bolton but Stoke drew level after Peter Crouch was allegedly brought down by Bogdan. Walter leveled from the spot and that is how the match ended. Bolton were relegated. We had got home at around 16:30. Matthew started to watch his new DVD's whilst I listened to the end of the match. And that is how this enjoyable but tiring weekend finished...Mark.