Trip to Newcastle / Crewe 29-06-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
114	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	1	D&G
100	Newcastle BS	Crewe, Railway Station	85	D&G
110	Crewe, Crewe Arms Hotel	Newcastle BS	85	D&G
63179	Newcastle BS	Fenton, Smithpool Road	11	First Potteries

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to his day service. Matthew was also going out on the bus to Crewe and we were going for a train ride later on. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast for breakfast. before Matthew went to the day centre he watched buses out of the window. whilst waiting for the time to go to the day centre, we saw Shelton Care Group DY08 FFX.

Shelton Care Group DY08 FFX in Fenton

When it was time to go we went downstairs and we set off on foot towards the bus stop on City Road. Whilst we waited for the bus to Newcastle we saw Herdman Coaches OIB 3514. A few minutes later the bus appeared and it was D&G Bus 44 on a #1 to Park Site. We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off down City Road and we ran down the hill over the old railway line to Leek and onto the A52. We ran under the railway line and over the A500 and straight into Stoke town centre along Church Street. After a brief stop in Stoke we continued along church Street and forwards onto Hartshill Road. The seat in front was empty so Matthew took a picture inside D&G 114.

Inside D&G 114

We ran up the hill and into Hartshill. We ran forwards onto George Street and we ran down the hill into Newcastle. We turned left at the roundabout onto Barracks Road and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took a picture of D&G 114.

D&G 114 in Newcastle bus station

We waited for a bus to Crewe. A short while later D&G 100 appeared on a #85 to Nantwich.

D&G 100 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Crewe before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off onto Barracks Road and we ran down onto the A34. We went Northwards to the next roundabout and then we turned left onto the Southbound A53. We turned right onto Blackfriars Road and we continued up the A525. We ran through Thistleberry and past Hampton's scrap yard. At the roundabout went straight and went up the hill towards Keele. We turned left into the campus and onto University Drive. At the end we turned left and ran through the university. We came out into Keele village and after a brief stop we continued along Station Road and we re-joined the A525. We headed Westwards into Madeley we saw D&G Bus 138 on a #85 to Hanley. We ran past the pool and we turned right into Izaak Walton Way. We turned right onto Moss Lane and we re-joined the Eastbound A525. We turned left onto New Road and we headed Northwards up the the A531. We ran through Wrinehill and Betley and we ran forwards onto Main Road. We ran through Weston and we turned left onto Weston Road. At the roundabout we ran forwards onto the A532 and we ran into Crewe and we saw D&G Bus 53 on a #85 to Hanley. At the roundabout we turned left onto the A534 and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we headed along the A534. We saw Arriva NW&W 2611 on a #37 to Northwich. We continued along the road to the cafe. Matthew had a can of Coke. Afterwards he had a burger and chips. hightlights of the buses we saw whilst eating include First Potteries 67656 on a #3 to Hanley. When we had finished eating we set off back towards the bus stop. we saw Arriva NW&W 2544 on a #37 to Crewe. Once at the bus stop we waited for a D&G bus back towards Newcastle. A short while later we saw D&G Bus 110 on a #85 to Hanley.

D&G 110 in Crewe

We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along the A534 and we turned right at the roundabout onto the A523. We continued straight onto Weston Road and we turned right onto Main Road. We ran through the village of Weston and out of the other side. At the roundabout we ran forwards onto the A531. We continued Southwards through Betley and Wrinehill and we turned right onto New Road. We joined the Westbound A525 and we ran into Madeley village. We ran past the pool and we turned right onto Izaak Walton Way. We turned right onto Moss Lane and we re-joined the Eastbound A525. We ran out of town and we veered right onto Station Road and into Keele village. We ran into the campus and past the student union before turning right onto University Drive. We re-joined the A525 and we ran down the hill towards Newcastle. We past Hampton's scrapyard and Thistleberry. We ran forwards onto Blackfriars Road and we turned left onto the A53. We turned right on to the Southbound A34 and at the next roundabout we turned left onto Barracks Road. We ran into the bus station and we entered the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards we waited for a bus back to Fenton. A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 63179 on a #11 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63179 in Fenton

We waited for the bus to be readied for service and we got on the bus and we booked to Fenton before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we ran onto Barracks Road. We turned right at Jubilee roundabout onto the A53 and we ran around the one-way system onto the A52. We ran up George Street and into Hartshill we saw First Potteries 63178 on a #11 to Newcastle.. We ran through the village and down the hill into Stoke town centre. After a brief stop in Church Street we continued into Fenton up the A52, over the A500 and under the railway line. We ran up City Road and near to the top we got up and got off the bus. We crossed the road and we walked onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. We went upstairs and Matthew chilled out in his room. Matthew chilled out in his room on his computer. we we saw First Potteries 67663 on a #11 to Newcastle. Matthew waited in his room because we were going to take him out to a barbecue and on a train ride. We arrived around 17:00 and we went downstairs and got in the car. We set off onto Temple Street and we turned right onto Christchurch Street. We turned right onto Station Bridge Road and we ran forwards onto Heron Street. At the lights we went straight onto Blurton Road before turning left and joining the Eastbound A50. We ran through Longton and Normacot and we came off the A50 at Meir. We joined the Northbound A520 and we ran through Weston Coyney and up to Cellarhead. We turned right onto the A52 and we ran out to Kingsley Moor before we veered left to continued along the A52. We ran through Kingsley and we went down the hill to Froghall. At the bottom of the road we turned right into the railway station and we parked up. Matthew visited the toilet and afterwards he sat down whilst I queued up to get his barbecue food. Matthew had a burger and a sausage bap. he washed this down with a bottle of Irn Bru from the car. Just before 18:30 we went and sat down on the train to wait for departure. Locomotive for the journey was Whiston, an Austerity tank engine usually based at Foxfield. We sat down in the Tourist Second Open coach 4354. We waited for the engine to run around the carriages and then we set off. It was the first time that Matthew had been on a train with me for at least 2 years! We set off Northwards and ran non stop through Consall. The train stopped at Cheddleton for the crossing gate to be opened and for the steam engine to take on more water. We continued Northwards up to Leekbrook Junction. After a brief stop we continued Northwards onto the Ipstones Branch. This was the first time Matthew had been on this part of the line. We set off up the steep 1 in 40 gradient and the engine really had to work hard to pull the 4 carriages up the hill. As we battled up the large chunks of ash came through the windows and covered the tables. We ran flat out up the hill past the site of the old Bradnop station and out into the open moorland. Before we reached Apesford Crossing we came to a stand for around 15 minutes and we appeared to run out of steam. After the wait we continued to the crossing. We stopped at threshing barn crossing as booked due to poor visibility. The guard watches the train through the crossing before getting back on the train. We continued to the current end of the line just short of the B5053 and Whiston ran around the carriages for the journey back. Whilst we were stopped I went to the brake van and purchased another bottle of 7up for me and Matthew to share. We set off down the hill and we stopped for Threshing Barn crossing. We also stopped at Apesford. We started the steep decent and we made another unscheduled stop. We continued down the hill and into Leekbrook Junction station. We travelled back South through the tunnel towards Cheddleton. After running through the tunnel we stopped in Cheddleton station. We had a stop for around 25 minutes and some of the passengers took advantage of the stop to go to the pub. The locomotive took on water and me and Matthew got off the train and had a look around. We got on the front coach and walked back through the train to our coach. We got back on and waited departure time. The locomotive back onto the train and sounded the whistle for about 30 seconds. Everyone came scurrying back from the pub! We set off and we continued South to Consall. We then did the last couple of miles back down to Froghall and then we got up and got off the train. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards went to the other end to have a look at the locomotive. We met back up with mum and then we went back to the car. Matthew enjoyed his train ride and perhaps we will do it again some time soon. Once in the car we drove off the car park onto the A52 and we went Westwards to Cellarhead. We turned left onto the A520 and we ran South to Meir. We joined the Westbound A50 and we ran through Normacot and Longton to Heron Cross. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we continued onto Heron Street. We continued onto Station Bridge Road and we turned left onto Christchurch Street. We turned left onto Masterson Street and right onto Watkin Street. We turned right onto Temple Street and we returned to the residential unit. We went up the stairs and Matthew went to his room to chill out. We said goodbye and Matthew settled down in his room. Later on Matthew had a bath and then had toast for supper. He then chilled out in his room until bedtime around 23:00... Mark.