Trip to Longton / Hanley 24-12-2021

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
69155	Blurton, adj Ladybank Grove	Longton TI	22	First Potteries
63099	Longton, Strand	Hanley BS	6	First Potteries
65039	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	101	First Potteries
69172	Newcastle BS	Blurton, Magdalen Road	22	First Potteries

Today we were going out on the bus on a short local trip. As it was Christmas Eve and the buses were finishing early hours on Christmas Day, we decided to stay local. We noticed that ex First South Yorkshire buses have appeared in the list for First Potteries on bustimes.org, which probably means they are about to be transferred to AG. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and apple juice for breakfast. We took Covid tests and we got ready to go out. We set off around 11:20 and we dropped a Chrsitmas card off at a neighbours before continuing to the bus stop all the way over on Beaconsfield Drive. Wew waited bat the bus top and we coupld see on the map that First Potteries 67153 was on a #23 to Newstead. We could also see that First Potteries 65001 was on a #22 to Newcastle and 69155 was on a #22 to Longton. We waited at the stop for the next bus to Longton and after a few minutes it came around the corner. As expected it was First Pottereies 69155 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 69155 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked to Longton before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Beaconsfield Drive and at the end we turned right onto Church Road. We followed the road around to the left onto Blurton Road and at the bottom of the hill we turned right onto Longton Hall Lane. We climbed the hill into Longton and onto the A50. We crossed the roundabout onto Baths Road and we entered Longton Transport Interchange. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 69155.

First Potteries 69155 in Longton Interchange

Once off the bus we cut through by the side of Wrights Pies onto The Strans and we turned right. We headed up to Britannia Cafe to get some dinner. It had unexpectedly closed for the day, so we walked back down the Strand to Cafe Paradise to have dinner. On the way to the cafe we saw First Potteries 65004 on a #6A to Hanley.

First Potteries 65004 in Longton

We went into the cafe and we sat at a table in the window. Matthew had a couple of sausage and cheese oatcakes washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished we went outside and we headed to the bus stop on the Strand. As we got to the bus stop we saw First Pottereies 63099 on a #6 to Hanley.

First Potteries 63099 in Longton

We decided to do this bus so we got on and we booked to Hanley before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We bus set off down The Strand and we ran under the railway line onto King Street. We ran through Foley into Fenton and forwards onto City Road past the site of the new Burger King. 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 and we turned left onto the ring road. We turned right onto Bethesda Street and right onto John Street and into the bus station. we got up and got off the bus. At the bus station Matthew used the toilet. We headed up to the bus station to take a few bus pictures. On the way to John Street car parked we saw First Potteries 31782 on a #8 to Ball Green.

First Potteries 31782 in Hanley bus station

We climbed the steps up to the approriate level to get pictures and we saw D&G Bus 135 departing on a #16 to Buxton.

D&G 135 in Hanley bus station

A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 65033 on a #101 to Stafford.

First Potteries 65033 in Hanley bus station

Also seen was First Potteries 63177 on a #4A to Kidsgrove.

First Potteries 63177 in Hanley bus station

Also seen was D&G Bus 158 on a #9 to Westbury Park.

D&G 158 in Hanley bus station

We headed back to the bus station and we decided that we would go to Newcastle before returning to Blurton. We turned down the #4 to Audley which was First Potteries 63103. We decided to wait and we saw First Potteries 69148 on a #5 to Abbey Hulton. Whilst we waited we saw First Potteries 63101 in the new orange colours. A short time leter the bus appeared and it was First Potteries 65039 on the #101 to Stafford.

First Potteries 65039 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Newcastle. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 65039 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 65039

We set off through the bus station and onto John Street. We turned right onto Bethesda Street and left onto Broad Street. We ran down the hill and over the ring road onto Snow Hill Before we turned right onto Shelton New Road. We ran down through Etruria an up into Hartshill before joining the A52. We ran into Newcastle down George Street. We joined the one way system and we turned left on the roundabout onto Barracks Road. We got to the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Whilst we waited for the next #22 we walked around and we took a few pictures. We saw D&G Bus 119 on a #1 to Meir.

D&G Bus 119 in Newcastle bus station

Also see was First Potteries 65032 on a #72A to Clayton.

First Potteries 65032 in Newcastle bus station

Another vehicle seen was D&G Bus 161 on a #9 to Westbury Park.

D&G 161 in Newcastle bus station

A short time later we saw First Potteries 63173 on a #99 to Chell Heath. After a short layover it ran around onto the stand. It was Fist Potteries 69172 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 69172 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Blurton. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 69172 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 69172

We set off out of the bus station onto Barracks Road and we ran Southwards onto the A34. We turned left into the hospital and we ran through the the grounds. As we travelled through the hospital we saw First Potteries 32634 on a #25 to Keele. We turned right onto Hilton Road and forwards onto Harpfields Road we saw First Potteries 63112 on a #22 to Newcastle. We ran to the end and we turned left onto the Southbound A34. We ran under the A500 into Hanford and we turned left onto Church Lane. We climbed to the top of the hill and we turned right onto Wilson Road. We turned left onto New Inn Lane and we ran into Trentham. We turned left onto the A5035 and we crossed over the railway line into Blurton. We passed the end of Stanley Matthew Way and we turned left onto Magdalen Road where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 69172 before it continued towards Longton.

First Potteries 69172 in Blurton

We had seen on the map that the #24 to Longton was just around the corner heading towards Longton. We waited on the corner of the street ans as expected we saw D&G Bus 164 on a #24 to Longton.

D&G 164 in Newcastle bus station

We walked back to the house and we spent some time in the house. Later on we went out to pick up the cake from Longton. We got in the car and we set off onto the A5035. We ran through Dresden into Longton and we crossed over the A500 and we ran down the Strand. We turned right onto Market Street and right onto Commerce Street. We turned right into Kingcross Street and we parked up. Once parked up we headed back to Market Street and we picked up the cake order that mumn had ordered the day before. Once we had picked up the cake we headed back to the car. We returned to the car and we headed back to Blurton. We set off onto Commerce Street and we went around the roundabout and onto The Strand. We turned left into Baths Road and ran past the bus station, but it was empty. We ran around the roundabout and we headed West on the A50. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross and we turned left onto Blurton Road. As we ran through Blurton we saw blue minibus DU69 GXK. We turned right onto Church Road and we turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive. We saw First Potteries 69155 on a #22 to Longton. We turned left onto Finstock and we saw Eddie's Private hire YJ61 GYZ and Z Carz YN11 AHJ. We got back home around 15:35. Later on after exchange present with a friend we went around to uncle Dave's for a buffet tea. We set off through Blurton onto Beaconsfield Drive and we turned left onto Church Road. We ran forwards onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. At the lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran down into Fenton and stopped at uncle Daves. Matthew played on uncle Dave's computer and I lit the coal fire. A short time later we srtaed the buffer. Matthew had cocktail sausages and sausage rolls as well as some chicken sandwiches. He wash washed it down with a glass of Coke. Later on after the fire was right, we had toast cooked on the open fire. For dessert Matthew had Viscount biscuits and a slice of chocolate roll. We watched TV and listened to music until it was time to returned to Blurton. We said goodbye to uncle Dave and we got in the car. We set off onto Wheildon Road. We ran forwards onto Grove Road and we turned right onto Blurton Road. We crossed over the A50 and we ran back through Blurton. We turned right onto Church Road and right onto the A5035. We got back to Blurton around 21:15. Matthew chilled out and we finished off the Blog before bedtime around 00:30... Mark