Trip to Newport / Telford 03-02-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3322	Newport BS	Telford BS	5	Arriva Midlands
3701	Telford BS	Madeley Centre (Stand C)	2	Arriva Midlands
3704	Madeley Centre (Stand B)	Telford BS	1	Arriva Midlands
2702	Telford BS	Madeley Centre (Stand A)	4	Arriva Midlands
3331	Madeley Centre (Stand A)	Telford BS	4	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Telford. The weather forecast for today was for cold grey weather with ligh rain or snow all around. We decided that the best weather was in Cheshire and Merseyside but we have been there quite a few times lately. We let Matthew look at the local map and on the map Matthew chose Telford. Research consisted of looking at tickets on Arriva Midlands website and looking uo where we ate on our last visit. Previously we had eaten inEccleshall as we traveled down and we decided to stop in Newport this time. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just before 12:00 and we headed onto the A5035. coming the other way were First Potteries 67632 on a #22 to Longton. We crossed into Trentham and we saw D&G 174 on a #14 to Hanley. Unsure if I had forgotten something we decided to turn at the roundabout and head back home! We crossed into Blurton and we saw First Potteries 67633 on a #22 to Newcastle. After picking something up we set off again onto the A5035 past the old NatWest bank which has now closed. We ran to the entrance of Trentham gardens and we joined the Southbound A34. We ran a couple of miles to the Darlaston roundabout and we joined the Westbound A51. We crossed over the M6 and we turned left to run down into Swynnerton village. We ran through Cold Meece past the triangle which we visited which was a bus turning circle when the #23 was extended to Eccleshall back in September 2015. We ran along Swynnerton Road near to Yarnfield and we crossed over the west coast main line before we joined onto the A519 just North of Eccleshall. We ran through Eccleshall town centre and at the second roundabout we turned right onto Horsefair. We continued Southwards along the A519. We ran through Wootton and Woodseaves. We crossed over the A41 and we ran into town along the B5062. In the town centre we saw A Star Dart W159 EAX & H5 PTY. We turned left into Stafford Street and we pulled up into the car park by the bus station. Matthew used the toilet and then we went to the cafe on Stafford Street. Matthew checked out the toilets in the cafe but just to see if the sink was a branded locally made one! For dinner Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of diet Coke, but we had finished the meal before the toast was ready so we had to leave it. We just missed the Telford bus so we had nearly a 30 minute wait for the next one. Whilst we waited we saw Arriva Midlands 2976 on a #519 to Shrewsbury.

Arriva Midlands 2976 in Newport bus station

We also saw Arriva Midlands 3784 on a #5 to Stafford. A few minutes later our bus turned up and it was required Arriva Midlands 3322 on a #5 to Telford.

Arriva Midlands 3322 in Newport bus station

We got on the bus and we brought Telford Day Saver Plus tickets at £4.70 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station onto Stafford Street and we headed into the centre of town. We turbed right onto Wellington Road and we ran South West for a short distance before turning left onto Granville Road. We turned right onto Ashworth Way and we ran into Aston. At the end of the road we turned right onto The Dale before we re-joined Wellington Road. At thr roundabout we joined the A518 and we went West for one junction before turning left into Lilleshall village. As we entered the village we spotted a large stone monument. Lilleshall monument is marked on the map on google and one review refers to it as "very monumenty". We ran through the village and then we ran forwards onto Wellington road into the village of Muxton. We got close to the A518 again and we turned left onto the A4640. We turned right onto School Road and we ran forwards onto Queens Road. We turned right onto Wrekin Drive and near to the shops we turned left onto Winifreds Drive. We turned left onto West Avenue and right onto Park Road. We turned left onto Furnace Lane and under the B4373 onto Moss Road. We continued Southwards into Oakengates along Gower Street and at the end we turned right onto West Street. We ran forwards onto Station Hill and under the A442. We turned right onto Uxacona Way and into Oakengates bus station. We gave Matthew the option of getting off here to catch a different bus forwards but he chose to stay on this bus. We left the bus station onto Uxacona Way and we went forwards onto Station Road. We crossed the A442 onto Holyhead Road. We turned right onto the A5 and then we called into the railway station. After a run aaround the station area we returned to the A5 and crossed over the M54. We crossed the A442 roundabout onto Hollinsgate and we ran up the hill. at thr next roundabout we went straight onto Grange Central. At the next roundabout we turned right onto Northfield Street and we pulled into Telford Bus station. We got off the bud and we had a look around. The bus station seemed different, and there was an exit at the Southern end that we didn't see previously. As we went to the toilet we realised what was going on. There seems to be a 2nd bus station built in front of the other one. We passed what was left of the old bus station and we visited the shopping centre toilets as we remebred them previously. When we returned to the bus station we had a look around to see what we could catch. Displaying "Sorry, not in service" was Arriva Midlands 3733.

Arriva Midlands 3733 in Telford bus station

We walked down to the bottom end of the bus station and we saw Arriva Midlands 2146 on layover.

Arriva Midlands 2146 in Telford bus station

On one of the bottom stands was Arriva Midlands 2142 on a #11 to Lawley village.

Arriva Midlands 2142 in Telford bus station

We also saw required Arriva Midlands 2731 on a #10 to Wolverhampton.

Arriva Midlands 2731 in Telford bus station

Most of the buses in the bus station were modern Streetlites. We spotted an older bus at the top end of the bus statio and we did not know what it was at the time but we decided we could do it to Madeley. It was dud Arriva Midlands 3701 on a #2 to Sutton Hill.

Arriva Midlands 3701 in Telford bus station

e got on the bus and flashed the Telford Day Saver Plus tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Malinsgate and we rounded The Severn Gorge onto Brunel Road. We headed South towards Dawley. At the end of the road we turned left onto Mount Road and we headed through the estate onto King Street. We ran South along the High Street and onto New Street and we crossed over Finger Road (B4373) onto New Road. We headed around the estate onto Trinity Road and we re-joined B4373 further South. We turned right onto Majestic Way and we ran to the roundabout and crossed over the A4169. We re-joined the B4373 and we turned right onto Woodside Avenue. We ran around the Woodside estate and at the end we turned left onto Ironbridge Road. We ran into the centre of Madeley along Park Street and Park Avenue and as we got to the town centre we got up and got off the bus. Matthew then took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3701 before it carried on back to Telford via Sutton Hill.

Arriva Midlands 3701 in Madeley

When we got off the bus we spotted a toilet opposite so Matthew visited the toilet. Whilst in the toilet I checked the bus stop outside to see when the next #1 to Telford was due and it was in around 5 minutes. Matthew came out of the toilet and we let go Arriva Midlands 33 on a #4 to Leegomery. Whilst we waited Matthew had a Milky Way from the trip bag. A few minutes later a bus appeared and it was required Arriva Midlands 3704 on a #1 to Telford.

Arriva Midlands 3704 in Madeley

We got on the bus and flashed the Telford Day Saver Plus tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off onto Park Avenue past Tesco and we continued over the roundabout onto Park Street. At the roundabout we ran forwards onto the B4373 before running around the housing estate on Woodside Avenue. We re-joined the Northbound B4373 and we crossed the A4169 ponto Majestic Way. At the end of the road we re-joined the Northbound B4373 before turning left onto The Old Vicarage. We turned right onto Trinity Road and we followed the road around onto Deepfield Road. We turned left onto Manor Road and right onto Webb Crescent. We crossed over Finger Road onto New Street and we continued onto King Street. We turned right onto Johnston Road and left onto Eyton Road. We turned left onto Mount Road and right onto Brunel Road. We ran to the edge of town and we turned right at the roundabout onto Malinsgate wehere we saw an unidentified Minsterley Motors PLaxton Cheetah parked up at the Severn Gorge pub. We ran onto Northfield Stre and we entered the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we decided to catch something quite quickly. We spotted required Arriva Midlands 2702 on a #4 to Madeley.

Arriva Midlands 2702 in Telford bus station

We got on the bus and flashed the Telford Day Saver Plus tickets to the driver. The bus was full and standing as we left the bus station. Matthew got a seat but me and uncle Dave had to stand for quite a while. We ran down Northfield Street and Near to the ice rink we saw an unidentified Creamline coach. We ran forwards onto St Quintins Gate where we saw NT Exec YR02 ZZT and Tyrer's coach TYR 16R. We crossed the roundabout onto Stirchley Avenue and we ran down to the A442. We ran fast for 2/3rd of a mile and then forwards onto the A4169. We travelled Westwards for a further mile and we got to the large roundabout with the pit winding gear in the centre that we had crossed over twice already earlier in the day! We turned onto the Southbound B4373 and then right onto Woodside Avenue. We ran around the woodside housing estate and then forwards onto Eastbound B4373. At the roundabout we went onto Mound Way and we ran to the edge of Madeley. At the next roundabout we went onto Parkway and we past an Aldi and Lidle as well as a new shop under construction. We bypassed Madeley town centre and we came in from the other end up High Street. When we got to the top we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 2702 before it returned empty to Telford.

Arriva Midlands 2702 in Madeley

We went to the shop and we saw Arriva Midlands 3329 the # on a #4 to Leegomery. In the shop matthew had a couple of cans and a couple of choclate bars as well as a packet of biscuit to take round uncle Dave's and a wriggly worm. We walked back to #4 stop to wait for the next departure back to Telford. Whilst we waited we saw dud Arriva Midlands 3732 on a #96 to Shrewsbury.

Arriva Midlands 3732 in Madeley

A few minutes later the bus appeared and it was required Arriva Midlands 3331 on a #4 to Leegomery.

Arriva Midlands 3331 in Madeley

We got on the bus and flashed the Telford Day Saver Plus tickets to the driver for what turned out to be the final time today. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3331.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3331

We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus waited time before setting of back to Telford. We ran onto Court Street and we turned left onto Parkway. At the roundabout we went forwards onto Mound Way. At the roundabout we went West along the B4373 before turning ritgh into Woodside Avenue. We ran around the Woodside estate before turning left onto the Northbound B4373. We ran up the the big roundabout and we turned right onto the A4169. We ran forwards onto the A442 and at the next junction we came off onto Stirchley Avenue. At the next roundabout we ran forwards onto St Quentins Gate and then forwards agin onto Northfield Street and into the bus station. When we got of the bus Matthew spotted Arriva Midlands 3698 on the X5 to Shrewsbury. Matthew wanted to do this bus but it was too late in the day to do a bus going in the opposite direction from home. We went into the shopping centre so that Matthew could use the toilet and then we returned ton the bus station to take a few pictures. We saw Arriva Midlands 3698 about to depart on the X5 to Shrewsbury.

Arriva Midlands 3698 in Telford bus station

We had suggested to Matthew that we did a #5 or #5A to either Newport of Muxton repectivley and mum could pick us up on the way home. We saw required Arriva Midlands 3755 on a #5A to Muxton, but Matthew didn't want to to do that bus. Whilst we saw if it was possible to do the next #5 we saw Arriva Midlands 2997 on a #96 to Shrewsbury.

Arriva Midlands 2997 in Telford bus station

We also saw Arriva Midlands 2748 on a #15 to Arleston.

Arriva Midlands 2748 in Telford bus station

In the end mum ran out time on the car park so she came to pick us up outside the bus station. We got in the car and Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll and a can of Irn Bru. We set off onto Northfield Street and we turned left onto Grange Central wher we saw Black's of Brechin BN17 JFF. We joined the Northbound A442 and we ran northwards to the edge of town. We turned righ onto the Eastbound A518 and we ran northwards up to Newport. At the Southern end of town we joined the Northbound A41 which by-passes the town centre to the East. At Forton we got onto the Northbound A519 and we did this through Eccleshall up to the edge of Stoke-on-Trent. Near to the A500 we turned right onto Whitmore Road. We turned right onto the A34 and by Trentham Gardens we turned left onto the A5035. We ran over the railway into Blurton and forwards into Dresden. We went to Longton to check out what was parked at Z Carz this evening. There was nothing on the spare ground again and we turned left into Willow Row to see what was in the compound. We saw Z Carz Ford minibus PY08 KDX.

Z Carz PY08 KDX in Longton

We also saw new to Z Carz minibus VK13 RGV. We returned onto the A50 and we ran up to Heron Cross and we turned left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and through the roadworks onto Church Street. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got back around 19:15. When we got back we downloaded photos off camera, wrote e-mails and worked on the Blog. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a Bakewell Tart. Later on we chilled out and watched television. I took uncle Dave home and Matthew chilled out on the sofa. later on Matthew went to bed around 00:30... Mark