Trip to The Potteries Connection running day 08-09-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
602	Gladstone Pottery Museum	Stone, Crown Street	Special	Midland Red
F97 PRE	Stone, Crown Street	Gladstone Pottery Museum	Special	Stevensons
202	Gladstone Pottery Museum	Hanley, Bethesda Street	Special	Midland Red
10	Hanley, Bethesda Street	Gladstone Pottery Museum	Special	Turners
766	Gladstone Pottery Museum	Hanley, Bethesda Street	Special	PMT
604	Hanley, Bethesda Street	Gladstone Pottery Museum	Special	PMT

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going to his day service. Later on I coming coming to pick him up to take him out to The Potteries Connection bus rally at Gladstone Pottery Museum. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. I was at work until around 10:30, so as soon as I had finished work I set off from Endon to pick Matthew up. We also arranged to meet uncle Dave outside the residential unit. I arrived at the residential unit about 10:50 and we went downstairs and met up with uncle Dave. We set of onto Temple Street and we turned right onto Christchurch Street. We turned left onto Baker Street and left onto Glebedale Road. We waited for the lights to change and we turned right onto City Road. We ran forwards onto King Street and we ran through Foley into Longton. We went under the railway line and forwards onto Market Street. We follows the one-way system onto Commerce Street and we entered the car park and parked up. After we had parked the car up we walked onto Millbank Street and left onto Normacot Road. We turned left onto Chadwick Street and we entered the site. Near to the entrance was First Potteries 67159.

First Potteries 67159 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We had a walk around the site to see what was on display this year. Near to the entrance we saw preserved Merseybus 6538.

Merseybus 6538 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We continued up the line taking pictures of buses. Also at the rally today was recent arrival from Worcester, First Potteries Enviro200 44514.

First Potteries 44514 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

Another bus on site this years was Warrington Bristol single decker 71.

Warrington 71 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

Up the top corner of the site was Stanways double decker P557 EFL.

Stanways P557 EFL in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We continued around the site and we saw required Midland Red Leyland National 602 which was about to work the next trip to Stone.

Midland Red 602 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We stood at the bus stop and we waited for the bus to be readied for service. Whilst we waited we saw Stanton's of Stoke double decker coach A12 EFA arrive on site.

Stanton's of Stoke A12 EFA in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We got on the bus and we sat down towards the front of the bus. We set off onto Chadwick Street and onto Normacot Road We crossed the A50 and joined the A5035. We ran along through Dresden and into Blurton travelling nearby to our house. We crossed the railway and we went into Trentham. At the A34 we went South and down through Tittensor and past the old Darlaston Inn. Planning permission to turn this into a petrol station and drive through restaurant have been refused. We continued down the A34 to the North end of Stone. We Veered left onto Newcastle Road and we ran into Stone town centre. After going around the one-way system and onto Stafford Road we turned right onto the one way system and onto Crown Street. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew wanted to go to the toilet, but as the bus had been duplicated by required Stevensons 97 we decided to get on that bus.

Stevensons F97 PRE in Stone

We got on the bus and we went upstairs and sat down. We set off up Crown Street and up around the one-way system onto Granville Square. We veered left onto the Northbound A520. We headed up this winding dark road surrounded by trees and we burst out into open countryside for the run up to Rough Close. At Rough Close we took the A5005 through Lightwood and into Longton. We crossed the A50 and onto Normacot Road. We turned left onto Chadwick Street and right onto the bus rally site. Once at the site we got up and waited to get off the bus. we saw Bassetts SUX 476X on a service to Hanley. Matthew let the top deck empty and got a picture inside Stevensons F97 PRE.

Inside Stevensons F97 PRE

Once off the bus we set off onto Chadwick Street and we walked around the corner to the Gladstone Pottery Museum. We went upstairs and Matthew used the toilet. When we had finished we came back out onto Chadwick street and we waited for mum to arrive and pick us up to take us for some dinner. We got in the car and we set off along Chadwick Street. We turned right onto Uttoxeter Street and we ran up to Normacot. We got onto the Eastbound A50 and we ran fast up to Meir Park. We turned right onto Lysander Road and we went to B&Q. For dinner Matthew had a burger and egg from the burger van outside B&Q. Once we had brought the burger we went back to the car to eat it. Matthew washed down his burger with a can of Coke. Once we had finished eating we drove next door to Tesco. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we brought some chocolate and a wriggly snack from Tesco and we returned to the car. We set off out of TEsco onto Lysander Road and we turned left onto the Westbound A50. We came off the A50 at Longton and after crossing over the A50 we turned right onto Normacot Road. We turned left onto Chadwick Street and we stopped outside the car park. We said goodbye to mum again and we headed off into the car park. The next buses we were doing would be Stagecoach Midland Red 202 which was about to work a service to Hanley.

Midland Red 202 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We got on the bus and we set down near to the back of the bus. We set off onto Chadwick Street and we turned right onto Normacot Road. We crossed the roundabout onto The Strand and we ran under the railway line onto King Street. We ran through Foley into Fenton and forwards onto City Road. We turned right into Victoria Road. We continued down the hill and we crossed over the A52 at Joiners Square. We ran up Lichfield Street past the site of the new housing development. Instead of going to the bus stops outside the bus station, we turned left onto the ring road. We turned right onto Bethesda Street where we got up and got off the bus. We took a picture of Stagecoach midland Red 202 before it returned back to The Gladstone Pottery Museum.

Midland Red 202 outside Hanley museum

Matthew decided at this point he wanted to go to the toilet. We went into the museum and by the time he had finished the bus had gone. We were stuck in Hanley for an hour!. We had a quick look around the museum including looking at the Staffordshire hoard and the space exhibition in the basement. We came back upstairs and we brought a twister ice cream and we sat outside the museum whilst we ate these. When we had finished we decided to go and look at the Harry Shaw depot, around the corner from the police station. on the way we saw First Potteries 65040 on a #3 to Crewe.

First Potteries 65040 outside Hanley museum

We continued along Bethesda Street and we turned right onto Lanelagh Street and the bottom was the harry Shaw garage. We saw coches including BL64 MFK. When we had finished we walked back up Ranelagh Street and we turned left onto Bethesda Street. We sat out side John Street car park and we watched the buses coming in and out of Hanley bus station which included Edwards BV66 WPX on a #528 to Rochdale. about 5 minutes before the next bus was due towards the Gladstone Potteries Museum, we walked along Bethesda Street to the spot outside the museum. A few minutes later we saw Turners 10 on a service towards Gladstone Pottery Museum.

Turners 10 outside Hanley museum

We got on the bus and we sat down upstairs. We set off along Bethesda Street. We turned left onto Broad Street and we crossed over the ring road. we ran for around 1/2 mile and we turned left into college Road. We ran down the hill through Shelton and at the end of the road we turned left onto Station Road. We had a brief stop outside the railway station and then we continued on our way. We ran to the end of Station Road and we ran forwards onto the A52. We turned left onto City Road and we ran forwards onto King Street. We ran through Foley into Longton and we ran under the railway line onto Market Street. We followed the one-way system onto Commerce Street and at the roundabout we turned left onto Normacot Road. We turned left onto Chadwick Street and we returned to the museum car park. Once off the bus we had another walk around the site as the position of many of the buses had changed. As we passed Stanton's of Stoke coach A12 EFA we spotted Keith who asked if Matthew would like to go onto the coach and have a look around. We got on and Matthew took a picture inside the lower saloon.

Inside Stanton's of Stoke A12 EFA

We went upstairs and Matthew took another picture inside Stanton's of Stoke A12 EFA.

Inside Stanton's of Stoke A12 EFA

There was time for one more round trip to Hanley. The next departure was PMT 604 on a service to Hanley.

PMT 604 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. The top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside PMT 604.

Inside PMT 604

We set off onto Chadwick Street and we turned right onto Normacot Road. We crossed the roundabout onto The Strand and we ran under the railway line onto King Street. We ran through Foley into Fenton and forwards onto City Road. We turned right into Victoria Road. We continued down the hill and we crossed over the A52 at Joiners Square. We ran up Lichfield Street past the site of the new housing development. Instead of going to the bus stops outside the bus station, we turned left onto the ring road. We turned right onto Bethesda Street where we got up and got off the bus. Duplicating the service was PMT 766 which we decided to do back to the Gladstone Pottery Museum.

PMT 766 outside Hanley museum

We got on the bus and we went usptairs and sat down. We set off along Bethesda Street. We turned left onto Broad Street and we crossed over the ring road. we ran for around 1/2 mile and we turned left into college Road. We ran down the hill through Shelton and at the end of the road we turned left onto Station Road. We had a brief stop outside the railway station and then we continued on our way. We ran to the end of Station Road and we ran forwards onto the A52. We turned left onto City Road and we ran up the hill into Fenton. We ran forwards onto King Street and through Foley into Longton. We went under the railway line and forwards onto Market Street. We follows the one-way system onto Commerce Street and we turned left onto Normacot Road. We turned left onto Chadwick Street and we returned to the museum car park. Once off the bus we had another walk around the site. We saw Burton Corporation 103 parked up.

Burton Corporation 103 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

Whilst we had been away some of the drivers had arranged the Leyland National in a line. We saw Merseytravel 1000.

Merseytravel 1000 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We headed along Chadwick Street and we turned right onto Millbank Street. We got back into the car and we drove onto Commerce Street. At the roundabout we went right onto The Strand and under the railway Bridge onto King Street. We passed through Foley into Fenton and we ran forwards onto City Road. We turned left onto Smithpool Road and left onto Temple Street. When we got back to the residential unit and we went upstairs. We sorted out Matthew and we said goodbye.Matthew also had a bottle of Irn Bru. For tea Matthew had chicken and potatoes. Matthew went back to the room and went on his computer. 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.