Trip to Newcastle / Biddulph 23-06-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67655	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	22	First Potteries
42552	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop R	21A	First Potteries
67636	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	25	First Potteries
67651	Newcastle BS	Stoke, adj stop A	11	First Potteries
67151	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Hanley BS	23A	First Potteries
67601	Hanley BS	Tunstall, adj stop B	7A	First Potteries
67658	Tunstall, adj stop B	Hanley BS	3	First Potteries
67637	Hanley BS	Biddulph BS	7A	First Potteries
67603	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries
67665	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	4	First Potteries

Today we decided to do a local trip. We checked the weather for today and it was for dry weather with some sunshine. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We decided do catch the 11:51 departure towards Newcastle today. We set off on foot to the bus stop all the way onto Magdalen Road. Whilst we waited for our bus we saw First Potteries 63100 on a #22 to Longton. A few minutes later our bus appeared and it was First Potteries 67655 on a #22 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67655 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked a Smart Day ticket at £5.30. This ticket is a multi-operator ticket valid throughout the North Staffordshire area. We sat down ear to the back of the bus and the bus set off onto the A5035. We went past the Trentham Hotel we turned right into New Inn Lane where we saw First Potteries 42552 was on the #21A to Hanley. Assuming we didn't hang around too long, we would be on this bus to Stoke. We got up to get off the bus at the man in Space and Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67655 before it carried on to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67655 in Trentham

Once we got off the bus we waited at the bus stop for a couple of minutes. A couple of minutes later we saw the First Potteries. As expected it was First Potteries 42552 on the #21A to Hanley.

First Potteries 42552 in Trentham

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 42552 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside First Potteries 42552

We set off up New Inn Lane and we turned right into Wilson Road an then left into Church Lane we saw First Potteries 67656 on a #22 to Longton. We joined the A34 and we ran under the A500 into Trent Vale. We turned right into London Road and we ran through Oak Hill and the the West End before running into Stoke Town centre and Campbell Place. There was nothing of interest parked up in City cabs and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 42552 before it carried on towards Hanley.

First Potteries 42552 in Stoke

Once we got off the bus we walked towards The centre of Stoke. We went around the corner into Church Street to Stoke Cafe. Uncle Dave escorted Matthew downstairs to the toilet and I ordered the food. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we walked down Church Street to the Newcastle bus stop. When we got to the stop we waited for the the next Newcastle bus to appear. Whilst we waited A few minutes later we saw an Enviro300 approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67636 on the #25 to Keele.

First Potteries 67636 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Church Street and off up the hill along Hartshill Road. We passed the Noah's Ark pub and Just after the pub we turned left by the Co-operative Food store and we headed to the hospital. We bounced our way through the hospital grounds over the severe speed bumps and we joined the North bound A34. We went around the roundabout at the bottom end of Newcastle and we turned right onto Barracks Road before entering the bus station from the Southern end. Once off the bus we saw D&G bus 140 on layover in between working on the #94 to Congleton.

D&G 140 in Newcastle bus station

We walked down to the bottom end of the bus station whilet we decided what to catch next. We saw First Potteries 32639 on a #99 to Chell Heath.

First Potteries 32639 in Newcastle bus station

Whilslt we decided what to do Matthew ate a double Milky Way. We then saw First Potteries 37146 on a #101 to Hanley and we got up to do this. On the way up the bus station we saw First Potteries 67651 on a #11 to Hanley,

First Potteries 67651 in Newcastle bus station

Matthew decided he wanted to the Enviro300 instead. We got on the bus and and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. When we got on I thought that we would probably be doing this bus to Stoke or Adderley Green. We set off onto Barracks Road and we ran up to the Jubilee roundabout. We ran onto the A53 and around the one-way system onto the A52. We ran up George Street into Hartshill and we ran down the hill towards Stoke town centre. Approaching Stoke Matthew decided he wanted to get off the bus so e rang the bell got up and got off. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67651 before it carried on towards Adderley Green.

First Potteries 67651 in Stoke

We continued down the road and we saw First Potteries 67151 on a #23A to Hanley.

First Potteries 67151 in Stoke

Matthew decided he wanted to do this bus so we got on and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Church Street in the direction of Newcastle. We followed the one-way system around onto Elenora Street and right onto Copeland Street. We turned left onto Glebe Street and we ran under the railway line before turning left onto Station Road. After stopping briefly outside the railway station we turned right onto College Road and we ran up the hill through Shelton. We continued onto Cleveland Road and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We crossed over the ring road and we continued along Bethesda Street before turning right onto John Street. We ran up the hill into the bus station and onto stand. Once in the bus station we got up and got off the bus. In the bus station we saw First Potteries 65705 on a #3 to Crewe. Matthew went to the toilet and then we headed up to John Street car park to take a few bus pictures. We saw D&G Bus 110 on a #16 to Leek.

D&G 110 in Hanley bus station

A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 63171 on a #7 to Kidsgrove.

First Potteries 63171 in Hanley bus station

A Scania Omnicity arrived into the bus station and went on layover. It was First Potteries 65041 on a engineering road test.

First Potteries 65041 in Hanley bus station

Also seen was D&G Bus 39 on a #2 to Birches Head.

D&G 39 in Hanley bus station

After a while we decided to return to the bus station to catch another bus. We went into the bus station and it was First Potteries 67601 arrive on the #3 to Crewe.

First Potteries 67601 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner and we sat down at the back of the bus. It was well loaded and when we stopped in Stafford Street we picked up a few more passengers. We carried on out of town into Cobridge and into Burslem and the bus started to empty out a little. We carried on along Scotia Road and along Williamson Street before going up Tunstall High Street. At the top of the High Street we got up and got off the bus. Matthew then got another picture of First Potteries 67601.

First Potteries 67601 in Tunstall

We headed into the Tunstall Cafe and Matthew went to the toilet whilst I ordered him a slice of toffee cheesecake and a can of Coke. It didn't take long for him to demolish the cheesecake and we were back out on the street less than minutes. We waited at stop A, as there was a #99 that was due. Across the road we saw First Potteries 67658 on a #3 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67658 in Tunstall

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We went down the High Street and we turned left into Williamson Street. We turned right into Scotia Road and we ran into Burslem town centre. We continued into Cobridge and down into Hanley. We joined Hope Street and we ran forwards to Stafford Street. After going past the town hall we entered the bus station via Bagnall Street. Once we got off the bus we sat down by the biddulph stop to wait for the next bus. We identified the bus that we thought was going to work the next #7A as First Potteries 67637. There was an engineer on board with the driver, and the bus didn't come straight on stand, doing a magic roundabout a couple of time around the bus station before eventually pulling on stand.

First Potteries 67637 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 67637 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside First Potteries 67637

The bus was slightly delayed and set off out of the bus station as soon as it had loaded. We went down John Street and onto Bethesda Street before we went across onto Marsh Street and then we turned right into Trinity Street. We turned left into Stafford Street and we continued forwards to Quadrant Road and we left Hanley along Town Road. We travelled through Sneyd Green and over Smallthorne roundabouts to Chell. At the roundabout we turned right and we ran down the A527 through Brindley Ford. We turned left to run through Brown Lees. We crossed over the A527 at Knypersley and we ran around through the housing estates of Biddulph before running into town via St John's Road, Colliers Way and up Wharf Road to the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67637 before it carried on back to Hanley.

First Potteries 67637 in Biddulph bus station

We went to the toilet and once we had finished there we headed up wharf Street to the High Street We headed to the Kebab shop and we picked up a couple of portions of fries. We walked back to the bus stops and as we turned the corner we saw D&G Bus 157 on a #9 to Hanley.

D&G 157 in Biddulph bus station

We sat down and we ate the fries. Matthew washed them down with a can of orange tango. We just about finished and we saw First Potteries 67603 on a #7A to Hanley.

First Potteries 67603 in Biddulph bus station

We got on the bus and we placed our Smart Day ticket under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off onto High Street and we turned left at the roundabout onto St John's Road. We ran around the estate and we crossed over the A527 at Knypersley We ran through Brown Lees via the diversion route and we rejoined the A527 by the industrial estate. We ran down through Brindley Ford and to Fegg Hayes. We ran up the hill to Chell and we turned left onto High Lane. We ran back through Smallthorne & Sneyd Green into Hanley. When we got back to Hanley we got up and got off the bus. We walked down to the bottom end of the bus station and we saw First Potteries 67665 on a #4 to Audley.

First Potteries 67665 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Bethesda Street. We went along Marsh Street and then down Etruria Road. We crossed under the A53 and we went into the Festival Park. We went up Festival Way and as we passed Waterworld. We turned right down Forge Lane before crossing under the A53. We joined the A53 and we crossed the A500 into Basford. We dropped down towards Newcastle and then we went around the one way system before turning left into Barracks Road. When we got back to the bus station Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 67665 before it carried on towards Audley.

First Potteries 67665 in Newcastle bus station

We went down to the bottom of the bus station and we saw D&G Bus on layover. We walked back up to the top end of the bus station and we saw D&G Bus 149 on a #85 to Crewe.

D&G 149 in Newcastle bus station

Mum was waiting in the car on other side of Barracks Road in a car park off Hassell Street. Matthew got in the car and had some Wright's Pie mini sausage rolls which he washed down with a can of Irn Bru. We set off down Barracks Road and on the A34. We ran down to Trent Vale. At Hanford roundabout we turned left onto The A500 and we went North to Sideway. We went East along the A50 and we travelled up to Longton where we came off to see what was parked up at Z Carz today. There was nothing on the spare ground so we turned left onto Willow row to see what was in the compound. We saw Z Carz Volkswaggen minibus OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

We went West along the A50, the main crriageway was closed for overnight roadworks. We turned left onto Foley Road and we turned right at the end onto Longton Hall Road. We ran to the bottom of the hill and we turn left by the BP garage. We ran up Blurton Road and at the roundabout we continued up to Church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive and we got back home at 19:30. When we got back for a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by another small sausage roll. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.