Trip to Hanley / Biddulph 17-11-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40375	Ladybank Grove , Blurton	Hanley BS	23A	First Potteries
34158	Hanley BS	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	25	First Potteries
41499	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop R	Hanley BS	21A	First Potteries
V130 LGC	Hanley BS	Biddulph, adj Somerfield Store	9	Bakerbus

Today we had planned on going to Uttoxeter. #4 town service, for a #32 Hanley. for a #1 to Burton. Swift Denstone. X50. Matthew had made it clear to me that he wanted to catch a bus up to Westport Lake because he went to the Traveline West Midlands portal to try and work out a bus move up there. I did no research but we did check the weather for today. It was supposed to start of wet, clearing by dinnertime for sunny intervals in the afternoon. Matthew woke up around 09:00 after the postman had knocked us up. After breakfast of toast and orange juice, he chilled out on his computer until it was time to set off. I asked Matthew which services he wanted to catch and he said he wanted to do a We walked the considerable distance to the Ladybank Grove stop in Blurton to wait for the next #23 or #23A into Hanley. As we approached the stop we could see a Plaxton Bodied Dart in the distance so we decided to run and try and catch it. We got to the corner first and we saw it was the very dud First Potteries 40003. As it was half full in Blurton e decided to turn this MPD Dart down as e envisaged it being a little full and an uncomfortable journey into Hanley. We let it go and not more than a couple of minutes later another bus approached. It was dud but virtually empty 40375.

First Potteries 40375 in Blurton

We booked a Smartday ticket and sat down near to the back of the bus. As we set off we passed new to Potteries Solo 53405 which is yet to receive a fleet number. We carried on through Blurton, eventually passing a very full looking 40003! 40003 overtook us in Heron Cross and as we were on a #23A turned let at the traffic lights onto Grove Road. A few minutes later we pulled into church Street Stoke and witnessed a short burst of bus activity. #26's passed with First 60011 and 65026 working on this service. We also saw First 66838 on a #25. Wardle Transport Solo 2546 was on a #41 and Scraggs Blue Buses was on a #31. We then went passed the railway station and up College Road to Hanley. As we entered the bus station we saw a new liveried double decker in the middle of the bus station. As we passed it we saw that it wasn't low floored 32634 but step entranced Volvo Palatine II 34158. We pulled into our stand near the bottom and Matthew coolly waited for the bus to empty so he could get an internal shot of 40375.

Inside First Potteries 40375

As we knew 34158 was out on a Newcastle turn we decided to go up and try and catch it. We were hoping it was going to on a #20 or #20A, but when we got up to the bus we saw it was on a #25 service. Matthew got a picture of 34158 in it's new livery before we got on and sat on the top deck.

First Potteries 34158 in Hanley bus station

We saw that 40151 was on a #20 service instead. We decided to do 34158 to Stoke and we could try and resume our plan of visiting Uttoxeter. Instead of eating chip on the balcony at Hanley we could have some chips in Stoke. Its a long time since we did a double decker along this route and it made a change. You could get a good view of the railway as well as being able to look over at the quarry in Fenton. As we approached Stoke we passed First potteries only other new liveried double decker 32634 on a Hanley bound #25. When we pulled into stoke we got of and got another picture of this beast with the sun in a slightly better position.

First Potteries 34158 in Stoke town centre

We then walked up to Campbell Place and Matthew sat outside the old London Grill cafe with uncle Dave whilst I brought us some chips. Matthew watched buses and took pictures. 41494 went past on a Hanley bound #21A and 41512 was seen on a Trentham bound #21A.

First Potteries 41512 on a #21A

Whilst we sat and ate our chips. First 60006 went by on a #21 to Bradeley. After we had finished our chips we went to sit at the bus stop to wait for the next #21 or #21A service towards Hanley. After a short while we could see a Caetano Nimbus Dart in the distance. We knew it would be required as we had yet to travel on one of these since their arrival. As it got closer we saw it was required First Potteries 41499. We sat down near the back to enjoy the journey. The interior of these buses looks quite nice. However, the seat don't seem to have much padding in them and feel quite hard. The Marshall's have better seats in them. We arrived in Hanley and Matthew unusually chose not to take a picture inside 41499. He did however get a picture after we got off.

First Potteries 41499 in Hanley bus station

Matthew wanted to stand on the balcony for a while. Whilst up there he spotted a white double decker stabled down the bottom end. He also saw Wardle Transport 1424 & 1648 parked up at the near end.

Wardle Transport 1424 Stabled in Hanley bus station

We had planned on doing a #1 or #4 up to Uttoxeter, but I don't think Matthew fancied doing either of these 2 buses. On the #20 was a dud Volvo single decker 66851. This was full and standing and non of us fancied a trip on this!

First Potteries 66851 in Hanley bus station

On the #21 to Bradeley was required First potteries Dart 40378 but he had is eye on the double decker. The problem is that we did not know when it was going to work. It looked like it was working for bakerbus as it was displaying #9 on it's display. In the meantime Matthew took a few more pictures such as 41495 on a 7B.

First Potteries 41495 in Hanley bus station

Whilst we waited for the double decker bus to move, we saw 2 of the new First Solo's which are yet to receive a fleet number. 53829 was on a #8B service whilst 53828 was seen on a #3 service. Just after 14:00 we saw the double decker move off the stabling area to do a lap of the old car park. As it approached we could see that ir was on a #9 so therefore working for Bakerbus. As it pulled on stand we saw it was required ALX400 bodied Volvo V130 LGC, which must be on loan to Bakerbus whilst one of the hybrids receives attention.

Bakerbus loanee V130 LGC in Hanley bus station

At this point we knew we weren't going to get to Central Forest Park today! We got on the bus and sat upstairs. We decided to o the bus to Biddulph and then meet mum there. The journey was quite pleasant in the late afternoon son, at least it made a change from always getting Hybrid 248 on this service. We trundled North through Smallthorne and Bradeley and past his old school. We passed bakerbus 246 on an opposite working. We also passed Wardle Transport 2961 on a #61 service. These are usually single decker on a Saturday and double deck during the week. When we reached Biddulph the bus pulled up outside the Co-op to allow us to get off. Matthew got a picture of the inside of this fine beast.

Inside Bakerbus loanee V130 LGC

After using the facilities in the bus station, we sat outside and waited aound for mum to arrive. We saw Bakerbus 186 on a #99 service and we also saw First Potteries 40305 on their #99 service. When mum arrived we sat in the car and ate some sausage rolls that mum had acquired from Wrights Pies in Hanford on the way up. We saw Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy get out of a car and walk off towards Tunstall around the by pass. Not sure what that was all about. We then drove off south down the A527 to Turnhurst, before doing the Tunstall by-pass down to the A500. We did the A500 until we reached the A50 which we did to Longton. In Longton we did a pass of the Z Carz depot. there was only 3 buses parked up Today. At the front of the row was V690 EBC.

Z Carz V690 EBC in Longton

We then went passed W344 WNS. It had a sticker 401 in the front window. We also saw full sized Scania coach D104 XAN which also had a 297 sticker in the front window.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

We then headed down Longton Hall Road and home to Blurton. We got home around 16:00. Matthew then settled down for the evening and waited for his tea which was sausage and mash again. He then went to bed a fraction before midnight...Mark