Trip to Biddulph 18-05-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2244	Newstead, adj Crowcrofts Road	Smallthorne, opp Preston Street	500	Wardle Transport
65729	Burslem, Swan Bank (Stop D)	Hanley BS	20A	First Potteries
199	Hanley BS	High street, Biddulph	9	Bakerbus
210	Biddulph BS	Northwood, adj Providence Square	9	Bakerbus

Today we were just going to go for dinner, but mum was unwell so we decided to do things a little different from planned. Te weather forecast had been for rain, so we ad planned to have dinner at captain Kooks and then either go for a drive or a walk depending on weather. Matthew had a lie in today and got up around 11:45. He had some toast and orange juice for a late breakfast. We were getting ready to go out just before 14:00 but mum was feeling little unwell so we decided to do things a little different. We decided to cover the afternoon #500 service which runs in the same pat as the Plumline, but visits the Sainsbury's distribution centre and then carries on past Hanley to Norton. We left the house a little before 14:00 and we saw the #500 head into Blurton. It was required Wardle Transport 2244. We carried on to the A5035 and as we got there we saw First Potteries 40151 on a Longton bound #22 service.

First Potteries 40151 in Blurton

We got to the stop and we didn't have to wait long before Wardle Transport 2244 made it re-appearance.

Wardle Transport 2244 in Blurton

After getting a SmartDay ticket, we sat down near the back and the bus set off. We turned into Stanley Matthews Way and then joined the Westbound A50. We went to the distribution centre then went along Campbell road into Stoke town centre. We headed along Eleanora Street and Glebe Street and passed the railway station. There we saw Wardle Transport 2409 on a #41 service. We went up college road and across the ring road and into the new bus station. Here we saw Bakerbus 215 parked up and 227 on a X1 service. After around a 5 minute wait we headed into marsh Street and up onto Stafford Street. We passed under the potteries shopping centre walkway and headed out of town on Town Road. As the bus headed North it emptied out in font of us so Matthew took a picture.

Inside Wardle Transport 2244

Just short of Smallthorne roundabouts we got up and got off the bus. Matthew got another picture of 2244.

Wardle Transport 2244 in Smallthorne

After taking a picture of the bus, we walked to the first of the famous Smallthorne roundabouts and turn left down Sneyd Hill. part way down we saw a yard on the left and we were surprised to see D&G DAF Cadet 25 under repair in a engineering yard. We carried on down to sandbach Road and then we stopped at captain Kooks for dinner. Matthew had a small breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. For afters he had toffee sponge pudding with custard. After we had paid we visited the toilet before carrying on. We decided to walk to Burslem along the route of the old potteries loop line, so we scaled the embankment and turned right towards Burslem. Having not done this walk for a while we came up early and onto Lingard Street. having discovered we had surfaced a street to soon we headed back onto the loop an came off on Moorland Road. We turned left and headed into the town centre. I asked matthew which way he wanted to travel and he chose to go South towards Hanley, So we turned left and walked to the Swan Bank stop. We only had to wait for a couple of minutes and we saw a new liveried Scania approaching. As it got closer we saw it was required First Potteries 65729.

First Potteries 65729 in Burslem

We got on and sat near the back. Te driver looked vaguely familiar, and turned out he was Matthew grandmothers friend who had given Matthew the bag we take out on trips amongst other things. So when we got off we went to say hello. Matthew also photographed the inside of this bus.

Inside First Potteries 65729

As we arrived we saw Bakerbus 227 heading north on a #9 service. Matthew visited the disabled toilet and then he had a milky way. We also took a picture of Wardle Transport 1501 outside the bus station which was on driver shuttle duties. He couldn't decided for a while where he wanted to go. We eventually decided to do required Bakerbus 199 on a #9 service.

Bakerbus 199 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and whilst we waited we saw required Bakerbus 194 on the X1 service. The bus set off North up to Smallthorne, and then went down Smallthorne bank before turning left through Chell. When we reached Fegg Hayes we turned right towards Knypersley, passing Plants minibus P16 NTS on the way. We turned left into brown Lees and then crossed over the A527. We went through the Biddulph housing estate before going onto the high Street. As we got off the bus Matthew photographed the empty Bakerbus 199.

Inside Bakerbus 199

We walked down to the 'bus station' and matthew used the toilet. Required Bakerbus 210 was about to do a Hanley bound #9 so we decided to do this.

Bakerbus 210 in Biddulph bus station

The bus was empty as we got on so he got a picture inside this unusual bus.

Inside Bakerbus 210

We got on and sat near the back. I texted mum to see if she was feeling any better, and as she was we arranged to meet on the edge of Hanley by Providence Square. We headed through the housing estate and back down towards Hanley. We passed bakerbus 194 around Knypersley and we passed Bakerbus 227 running out of service by Hanley Forest Park. We got off the bus and Matthew got another picture of Bakerbus 210.

Bakerbus 210 in Hanley

We walked to the nearby Northwood store where Matthew bought a can of Coke, a milky way and a rice crispy squares bar. We walked back to the square and Matthew decided to eat the Milky Way and save the Squares and the can of Coke. Whilst we waited for mum we took some bus pictures. Here is First Potteries 61531 on a #7 service.

First Potteries 61531 in Hanley

Mum called to say she was nearby so we met her on the corner of Town Road ad Dundas Street. We drove around hanley and onto Victoria road. We then did the A50 link road and onto the A50. At longton we went passed the Z carz depot where there were only 2 vehicles present today. The first was Scania coach D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

The other vehicle was his old college bus, LDV minibus M420 UEH.

Z Carz M420 UEH in Longton

We carried on down Longton Hall Road and then onto the A5035. As we had not got any sausage rolls today, we called at the chip shop next to Aldi and we had a portion of chips to share. We then went home around 19:00 we ate the chips (Matthew had a sausage too), and looked at our pictures. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with a coupe of butterfly cakes for afters. He then chilled out on his computer before bedtime around 00:00...Mark