Trip to Hanley / Crewe 15-02-2020

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
67159	Blurton, adj Ladybank Grove	Stoke, Adj stop Q‎	23	First Potteries
63118	Stoke, Stop N	Hanley BS	25	First Potteries
67658	Hanley BS	Crewe BS	3	First Potteries
4489	Crewe BS	Congleton BS	38	Arriva NW&W
125	Congleton BS	Biddulph BS	94	D&G Bus
67653	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries

Today we decided to stay fairly local. In light of the weather forecast it was perhaps a good idea. We didn't do any research for the trip other than to check the weather. Storm Dennis was due to come through the area from dinnertime onwards. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We decided to catch the #23 to Stoke and have dinner in Stoke. We set off just after 11:30 and we walked to the stop all the way on Beaconsfield Drive to wait for a bus to Stoke. We didn't have to wait for long and we saw a bus come around the corner. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67159 on a #23 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67159 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked a Network Day ticket at £7.50. We sat down towards the back of the bus and we set off along Beaconsfield Drive. We ran to the end we turned left onto Church Road. We ran to Critchlow's Corner and we veered left onto Blurton Road running through Blurton. We crossed the A50 and at Heron Cross lights we went forwards onto Heron Street. We followed the road around onto Station Bridge Road. We turned left at Christchurch Street. We turned left onto City Road. and we joined the A52 to go under the railway line and over the A500. We continued onto Church Street where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked along Church Street to Stoke Cafe. Matthew went to the toilet and I ordered the food. For dinner Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. Once we had finished eating we set off onto Church Street. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do a #25 up to Hanley and he agreed. We crossed over the road and we waited at the Hanley bound stop. Opposite we saw First Potteries 67662 on a #11 to Newcastle.

First Potteries 67662 in Stoke

A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 63118 on a #25 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63118 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we flashed the Network Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Church Street over the A500 and under the railway line. We followed the A52 to the left and we ran alongside the railway and onto Station Road. We passed the railway station and we turned right onto Stoke Road and we turned right onto Avenue Road. At the roundabout we turned left onto College Road. We ran up the hill through Shelton and we followed the road to the right onto Cleveland Road and Regent Road. We turned left onto Lower Bethesda Street and we crossed over the ring road, continuing onto Bethesda Street. We turned right onto John Street and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we had a quick look around the bus station. We saw required First Potteries 32643 on a #6A to Blythe Bridge.

First Potteries 32643 in Hanley bus station

We waited for the next Crewe bus. A short time later we saw First Potteries 67658 on a #3 to Crewe.

First Potteries 67658 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Network Day ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto John Street. We turned right onto Bethesda Street and we went straight across onto Marsh Street. We turned right up onto Trinity Street and we went past the former RBS now a new shop. We turned left onto Stafford Street. After picking up more passenger outside of Debenhams we followed the road around to the left and then back onto marsh Street. At the roundabout we went straight on onto Waterloo Road and we ran up the hill into Cobridge. We continued into Burslem and through the traffic lights onto Scotia Road. We went past the old Burslem PMT garage and we followed the road around to the left onto Williamson Street. At the corner we turned right onto Tunstall High Street We saw First Potteries 63177 on a #3A to Hanley. and we continued North onto the A50. We ran through Goldenhill and down the bank into Kidsgrove. We ran under the railway line and we passed the site of the new Lidl being built. into Cheshire and we crossed over the A34. We continued into Church Lawton and then into Alsager. We continued Westwards along the B5077 under the M6 and into Radway Green. We followed the road to the right up Slaughter hill and we continued straight up into Haslington. We turned left onto Crewe Road and we re-joined the B5077 towards Crewe Green. We crossed over the roundabout onto the Westbound A534 and we ran towards Crewe railway station. We past the railway station where we saw an unidentified Majestic coach. We continued for around 1/2 mile before turning right into Edlestone Road. We ran into town crossing over the railway line and forwards onto Chester Bridge. We followed the road around onto Delamere Street and we turned right into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we saw Arriva NW&W 2619 on a #31 to Northwich.

Arriva NW&W 2619 in Crewe bus station

We decided to have a quick walk around town for a break from buses. We set off around the corner onto Charles Street and right onto Victoria Street past the former Wetherspoons pub which closed down as part of the new bus station development that will be starting soon. We turned right on to Market Street and left onto Earle Street. We walked past the market which is under renovation, and we stopped at the pub on the end of the road. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we had a glass of Coke. Whilst we gad our drink we asked Matthew hwere he wanted to go next. He wanted to go to Congleton so we looked at the time of the next bus. there was a departure in just less than 20 minutes so we finished our drinks and walked back to the bus station. We set off down Prince Albert Street and we turned right onto Crewe Street. We followed the street to the left onto and we turned right onto Moss Square. We re-joined Prince Albert Street and we turned left onto Chester Street and we turned right onto Market Street. We turned left onto Delamere Street and we entered the bus station from the Southern End. We walked into the main station and we saw Arriva NW&W 2934 on a #31 to Northwich.

Arriva NW&W 2934 in Crewe bus station

On layover was Arriva NW&W 4489 which was about to work the #38 to Macclesfield.

Arriva NW&W 4489 in Crewe bus station

The bus pulled onto the stand and the driver got the bus bus ready for service. We got on and we brought Arriva Day Saver tickets at £5.50 each before we went upstairs. The top deck was empty was so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 4489.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4489

The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned left onto Delamere Street. We followed the road around to the right onto Chester Bridge and we crossed the railway line and onto Edleston Road where we saw Arriva NW&W 4162 on a #37 to Crewe. At the end of the long straight road we turned left onto the A534 and we ran past the railway station ans past B&Q. We traveled Eastwards along Crewe Road. We went through Haslington and Winterley and further North through Wheelock Heath. We crossed the A534 and we ran through Wheelock. We ran over the canal and into Sandbach town center past Sandbach School. When we got to the Common we stopped for a short while and we saw Arriva NW&W 4164 on a #37A to Sandbach. We set off out of the Common onto Congleton Road. We joined the A534 and past the site of the new development by the M6. We continued along the A534 and we crossed over the M6 and into open countryside. We carried on through open countryside and we crossed over the Arclid crossroads. On the edge of Congleton we joined the A34 and we ran East along the road for a short while before going onto West Street. We entered town along Antrobus Street, Mill Street and Mountbatten Way. We turned right into Market Street, past the Bear Grills cafe and into the bus station. We got off the bus and we took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4489 before it carried on towards Macclesfield.

Arriva NW&W 4489 in Congleton bus station

We knew that the next #38 to Crewe was due and we went down to the stand to wait for it. A short time later it appeared and it was Arriva NW&W 2499 as expected.

Arriva NW&W 2499 in Congleton bus station

We walked up to the top end of the bus station and Matthew visited the toilet. Afterwards we continued up Market Street and we turned right on to Bridge Street. We stopped at B&M and we brought a bottle of Coke, some chocolate bars and a cup of pick and mix sweets. We walked along Bridge Street and left onto Market Street and back to the bus station. We sat in one of the bus stops and Matthew ate a couple of fun sized Milky Way bars. Whilst we were eating we saw D&G Bus 125 on a #94 to Newcastle.

D&G 125 in Congleton bus station

We got on the bus and we brought singles at £2.20 each before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Market Street and we turned right into High Street. We continued onto Lawton Street. We turned right onto the A527 and we ran out of town past Congleton railway station. We ran through Mossley and White More and into Biddulph. We set off along the by-pass before turning right into Wharf Road where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of D&G Bus 125 before it continued to Newcastle.

D&G 125 in Biddulph bus station

Once off the bus we used the toilet and turned the corner onto the High Street. We walked down to the kebab shop and we ordered some food. We picked up a couple of portions of fries and a can of Vimto and we returned onto Wharf Road. We returned to the bus stop to eat the fries. After we had eaten we had around 10 minutes to wait for the next #7A to Hanley. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was First Potteries 67653 on a #7A to Hanley.

First Potteries 67653 in Biddulph bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the First Network Day ticket to the driver for the final time today. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 67653 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 67653

The bus set off onto the 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 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. The bus came in through Quadrant Road and forwards onto Stafford Street. We ran past the town hall and we ran along Bagnall Street and into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and we spotted First Potteries 65004 on a #101 to Stafford.

First Potteries 65004 in Hanley bus station

We visited the toilet and afterwards we left the bus station and we crossed Lichfield Street. We walked along Birch Terrace and we met up with mum and her friend. We got in the car and Matthew had a can of Coke. We set off along Birch Terrace and we turned left onto Lichfield Street. We crossed over the ring road and we ran down Lichfield Street and into joiners Square. We crossed over the roundabout onto Victoria Road and we ran up the hill. We got onto the A50 link road and then we ran Eastwards along the A50 to Longton where we came off to see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. There was nothing on the spare ground as is usual these days so we turned left into Willow Row and we saw Z Carz Iveco minibus YJ53 WPD parked up in the compound.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

We turned around and got back onto the A50 and we went Westwards to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton. We ran forwards onto Church Street and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive. We got home around 19:15. For a late tea we had bangers and mash and carrots followed by millionaire's shortbread squares. We spent time doing the e-mails and doing the Blog. Later on we went to take uncle Dave home and Matthew came with me. We set off through Blurton and onto Beaconsfield Drive. We turned right onto Finstock Avenue and we followed the road around onto Magdalen Road. At the end we turned right onto the A5035. We turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way and we ran to the end. We turned right onto the Eastbound and we ran up to Heron Cross. We turned left into Grove Road and we dropped uncle Dave off at home. Having adjusted uncle Dave's calender we set off back home. We ran up Wheildon Road and forwards onto Grove Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and at the roundabout we turned right onto the Westbound A50. We came off at the next junction and we joined Stanley Matthews Way. We ran to the other end and we turned left onto the A5035. We got home around 22:45. We chilled out on the computer and watching telly until 01:00... Mark