Trip to Hanley 19-01-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40375	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
2203	Hanley BS	Birches Head, adj Shops	41	Wardle Transport
41500	Birches Head, adj Shops	Hanley BS	38	First Potteries
4692	Hanley BS	Tunstall, adj stop M	61	Wardle Transport
60173	Tunstall, adj stop M	Hanley BS	21	First Potteries
183	Hanley BS	Biddulph, adj South View	9	Bakerbus

Today was going to be a walk at Westport Lake. Matthew was due to go to Heathfield in the morning and we were going to go walking in the afternoon. But the event at Heathfield was canceled the day before due to the heavy snowfall. We knew Matthew wouldn't be happy stuck at home on a Saturday, so we decided to travel on a few local buses. Matthew got up at 08:00 which is very unusual for him. We checked the weather and there was no more snow due today. I also checked the First Staffordshire sight to see if buses were running. The site showed that al services were running but there were some minor diversions around un-gritted or impassable roads. we also checked the Arriva site and there was no disruptions noted on their site either. Matthew had some toast for breakfast washed down with orange juice. I decided it would be a good idea to take some sandwich in case of emergency but we didn't have any sandwich meat in, so I waked to Aldi to pick some up. Whilst I was out i was able to check out how the buses were running locally and all seemed fine. Whilst out I saw Wardle Transport 2998 on the Plumline, Wardle Transport 2224 on a #350 to Newport. First Potteries 40147 & 40150 were out on #22's and 40175 on a #23 service. Back home today I decided it would be a good idea to have some hot food before we left. Matthew had a bacon sandwich and me and Uncle Dave had a stir fry. Matthew got dressed and we left home around 13:20. As we walked to the bus stop we spotted the 3rd #22 turn and it was First Potteries 40145. Matthew got a picture on the corner of Finstock Avenue.

First Potteries 40145 in Blurton

We carried onto the stop on Beaconsfield Drive missing a new Solo on a #23. As 40145 was still at the stop I asked Matthew if he wanted to go to Hanley or Longton and he chose Hanley. Whillst we waited we saw 40375 heading towards Newstead which we thought would probably our bus to Hanley. we also saw required First Potteries 42727 on a #23 to Longton. A few minutes later 40375 rounded the corner and Matthew got a picture.

First Potteries 40375 in Blurton

We tried to book a Smart ticket but the driver didn't have any of the protective wallets so one of us had a free ride to Hanley at least for now. We sat down near the back to enjoy our journey. It was the third time in the last year we had been on this bus, the last time was on a similar trip to Hanley back in November. We travelled through Blurton and Heron Cross, and through Fenton to Stoke. In Stoke we passed required First Potteries 32635 on a #25 Keele - Hanley service. We taveeled around the stoke one way system and on to the railway station. There were 2 coaches parked outside the station, presumebly on rail replacement work these were Global Travel T5 XLA and Hanley Travel G97 RGG. We carried on up past the college and then into Hanley. when we reached the bus station we entered the bus station but there were no empty stands so we went back out of the bus station onto Birch Terrace and back onto Lichfield street before re-entering the bus station to get onto a stand. The bus emptied and Matthew got a picture of the inside of the now empty 40375.

Inside First Potteries 40375

We went up on the balcony to look at buses. It was clear in part but there was some ice on the steps so we had to be careful going up and down. I went to fetch some chips whist Matthew and Uncle Dave stopped on the balcony. Dud Wardle Transport 4898 was on the X50 which is unusual, but not unusual enough for us to catch it over eating chips. However, he did get a picture of this bus.

Wardle Transport 4898 on the X50 in Hanley

We finished off our chips and we contemplated what to do next. Wardle transport 4687 was on the #61 which is unusual to get a decker on a Saturday, but we had been on this twice on New Years Eve. It was very cold and we knew had to do something quickly or get very cold indeed. We also saw Wardle Transport 2230 on the Northbound #500 to Norton. I tried to steer Matthew on one of the #25's so he could do one of the newer double deckers all of which are required. Eventually, we decided to do a #41 to Birches Head with Wardle Transport 2203. Matthew got a picture of this bus before we carefully went down the steps into the bus station to get on this bus.

Wardle Transport 2203 in Hanley bus station

We tried once again to get a Smart day ticket but the driver didn't have a wallet so that was another free journey! This was a bus that Matthew had done previously back in June last year. Whilst we waited to depart I noticed First Potteries 41500 was on stand on a #38 to birches Head. Also we saw Wardle Transport 3611 arrive on a #62 which is not an everyday sight. We had never done a Birches Head service before which is unusual considering all the interesting bus that have worked on the #38 in previous years. Also there has been some good buses working on the #41 with RML, D&G and latterly Wardle Transport too. We weren't familiar with the route but I thought the end of the route was circular, down through the newer houses and back through the terrace streets to edge of Hanley. As we left Hanley we saw required wardle Transport 4692 arrive on a #61 service. It is a bus that we have missed on a couple of occasions, on New Years Eve and the Wardle Transport running day. We saw a point which looked like the end, it was some shops on Diane road so we got off here. Not before Matthew had taken a picture of the empty bus.

Inside Wardle Transport 2203

We were considering going to the shop when we saw First Potteries 41500 approaching. I asked Matthew if he wanted to get the bus or go to the shop and he opted for the bus. He got a picture of required 41500 before we got on it.

First Potteries 41500 in Birches Head

On our third journey of the day we managed to get our Smart day ticket. The bus was empty so he got a picture of of the empty 41500 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 41500

We set of back into Hanley, and as we reached the townsend area I asked matthew if he wanted to get of and wait for 4692 on the #61 (it was 1459 and I thought the #61 left hanley at 15:00). He said no and it turned out to be a good move by him. We got into hanley bus station around 15:10 and we went up to the balcony to see that 4692 was still over in the parking area. I downloaded the #61 timetable and saw that the Saturday #61 left at half past the hour. By this time we only had around 12 minutes to wait for the bus. So we took a few picture before we saw 4692 move out of the parking area around 15:25. The bus pulled on stand and we got pictures of the bus before we carefully went down the steps again to catch the bus.

Wardle Transport 4692 in Hanley

We got on the bus and waited for time. Matthew got his empty bus picture as we awaited time.

Inside Wardle Transport 4692

As we set off we went down the row and we spotted 41540 'Not in Service' parked up in the parking area along with Wardle Transport 1406 and 1460 and Bakerbus step-entranced Volvo B6 227. We set off to Sneyd Green and then into Smallthorne as we headed to Chell we passed a couple of #21/29s in Bradeley. Dud 60136 was on a hanley bound #29 and 60173 was on a Trentham bound #21. We got to Tunstall and got off at the top of the high street so we could visit the public toilet. Matthew used the disabled toilet and inside there was a leaflet for the park and ride service. The fare was £1 and the bus on the leaflet was a step entranced Mercedes minibus so how old this leaflet is I don't know. I had asked Matthew if had wanted to go to Longport to meet mum and he had said no as he wasn't done for the day yet. That left us with perhaps a trip to Biddulph on a #99 or maybe back to Hanley on either a #20/20 or #21/29. We saw 60189 on a Kidsgrove bound #20A and we also saw 60173 again on the #21 to Trentham. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do 60173 and he said yes. He didn't get a picture of 60173 before we boarded but here is one he took in November 2011.

First Potteries 60173

When we got on 60173 it was almost empty and he got one as we got on.

Inside First Potteries 60173

I texted mum to say we were probably on our penultimate bus, and we would let her know where we were going to be picked up from if indeed we did need picking up. I thought the journey was going to take around 40 minutes and I was surprised when it only took around 25. We got into Hanley bus station just as it was going dark. We got off and Matthew immediately spotted a step entranced Mercedes at the other end of the bus station. It was dud Bakerbus 183 which he hadn't been on since he had a very short run on it in Stone back in June 2011. He got a picture of this bus and then we got on it.

Bakerbus 183 in Hanley bus station

We set of out of Hanley and then down Smallthorne bank. We passed 41498 on a Hanley bound #8 service. It was now fully dark and we headed up through Fegg Hayes and Brindley Ford. I had called up mum to arrange to meet her at Biddulph Sainsbury's. Eventually we pulled up in Biddulph High Street and we got off the bus. Matthew got another picture of this fine beast before we set off towards mum.

Bakerbus 183 in Biddulph High Street

We walked down to the car to meet mum. The plan had been to drop the bag off at the car and then go into sainbury's to get lottery tickets and some food, but Matthew decided to get n the car. We Drove out of Biddulph Southbound on the A527. We passed First Potteries 61237 on a Biddulph bound #7A. We got to the top of high lane and we spotted the Tesco express on the left so we decided to stop here. We saw First Potteries 60063 go past on a 21. In the shop Matthew had some coke, a milky Way and a chocolate cake for later. We got the lottery tickets and Matthew said hello to a couple of people in the shop. We carried on along the a527 nd we decided to take Matthew to the MacDonalds on the A50. After we had picked him up some food from the driver through we got back on the A527 and e did it down to the A500. We did this southbound to the A50 and we went to Longton so he could see what was on the Z Carz depot. There were only 3 buses there, and one of them was Mercedes minibus T131 SGA.

Z Carz T131 SGA in Longton in the snow

We then went down Longton Hall Road and then home, getting in around 18:15. Matthew finished off his MacDonalds and then settled down for the evening. For a late tea he had Sausage carrots and mash and his chocolate cake he brought earlier. He then spent time on his computer before bedtime around 00:00...Mark