Trip to Froghall / Trent Vale 31-12-2024

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
119	Fenton, adj Travers Court	Newcastle BS	1	D&G Bus
67177	Newcastle BS	Longton Interchange	22	First Potteries
67148	Longton Interchange	Newcastle BS	22	First Potteries
6008	Newcastle BS	Fenton, Smithpool Road	1	D&G Bus

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was going out on the bus. 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 dentist and we saw Roseville BV60 BAA. Matthew went into the living room and we went downstairs and we and we cut through onto City Road to wait a bus to Hanley. At the Afford garage we saw Afford rent-a-car BG72 UDV parked up.

Afford rent-a-car BG72 UDV in Fenton

We stood at the bus stop outside the flats and we waited for a bus to Newcastle. Whilst we waited we saw First Potteries 67155 on a #23 to Hanley. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was D&G Bus 119 on a #1 to Park Site.

D&G Bus 119 in Fenton

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. We continued along Church Street onto Hartshill Road and into the centre of Hartshill. We turned left into the Avenue and left again onto Hilton Road before turning right into the City General Hospital. As we travelled through the hospital we saw Travel Express HF64 AJU. Once through the hospital we turned right onto the A34 and we ran into Newcastle. We crossed the roundabout and we ran up Barracks Road and into the bus station from the South end. Once we got to the bus station we got up and got off the bus. We continued down to the bus station and saw D&G Bus 6001 on a #9 to Biddulph.

D&G Bus 6001 in Newcastle bus station

A few minutes later the bus turned up and it was dud First Potteries 67177 on a #22 to Longton.

First Potteries 67177 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Longton before we sat down towards the back of the bus. 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. We turned right onto Hilton Road and forwards onto Harpfields Road. We ran to the end and we turned left onto the Southbound A34. We ran under the A500 into Hanford. 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 and we saw First Potteries 67142 on a #22 to Newcastle. We passed the end of Stanley Matthew Way and we turned left onto Magdalen Road. We turned right onto Finstock Avenue and left onto Beaconsfield Drive where we saw First Potteries 67159 on a #23 to Newstead. After a short wait we continued along Beaconsfield Drive and we ran through the estate to the other end. We turned left onto Church Road and at the the roundabout we turned left onto Blurton Road. We ran to the bottom of the hill and we turned right onto Longton Hall Road. We ran up the hill and we ran forwards onto Heathcote Street. We turned left onto the high level A50 and at the roundabout we turned right onto Baths Road. We ran past Tesco before turning right into Longton Interchange. Where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Once off we saw blue minibus SF68 DLZ. Once off the bus Once off we walked over to Tesco and Matthew used the toilet. When we had finished we set off onto Baths Road. We continued to the Pheonix retail park and we stopped at McDonalds. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards had chicken nuggets and fries and a drink of Coke. After we had finished eating we had finished eating we set off on foot to the bus stop. We went to Tesco and we brought some new headphones. We walked past the Interchange. Once off the bus we waited for the bus back to Newcastle. A short time later we saw a bus on stand. It was First Potteries 67148 on a #22 to Newcastle. The bus set off out of the Interchange onto Baths Road past Tesco. We cross over the A50 onto Foley Road and at the end we turned right onto Longton Hall Road. We ran down the hill into Blurton and we turned left onto Blurton Road. We ran up the hill and at the roundabout we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we ran to the end. We turned right onto Finstock Avenue and we followed the road around onto Magdalen Road. We turned right onto the A5035. We went past the Trentham Hotel we turned right into New Inn Lane. We turned left into Wilson Road and left into Church Lane. We continued down to the hill and we joined the Northbound A34. In the distance saw an unidentified Lakeside coach join the Northbound A500. We headed into Trent Vale. We turned right into Harpfields Road and we continued forwards on Hilton Road before turning right into the City General Hospital. Once through the hospital we turned right onto the A34 and we ran into Newcastle. We crossed the roundabout and we ran up Barracks Road and into the bus station from the South end. Once we got to the bus station we got up and got off the bus. We returned to the bus station and we waited for a bus back to Fenton. A few minutes later we saw our bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was D&G Bus 6008 on a #1 to Meir.

D&G Bus 6008 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we booked to Fenton and sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Barracks Road. 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 ABC Supreme YK24 DYB. We turned left onto Hilton Road. We continued onto Albany Road and we turned right onto The Avenue. At the end of the road we turned right onto the A52 and we ran through Hartshill and down the hill into Stoke town centre. After a brief stop we continued along Church Street out of Stoke and over the A500. We ran under the railway line and we continued onto City Road. At the top of the hill we got up and got off the bus. We crossed over City Road and we cut through to the residential unit. We went upstairs and chilled out in his room to chill out and use the computer. Matthew also watched buses out of the window. 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 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. 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. We crossed the roundabout onto Rosalyn Road and we turned left onto the A5035. We ran through Dresden to Blurton and we returned home. We chilled out and Matthew had sasage rolls and egg custard. Around 17:00 Matthew set off back to the residential unit by car. We set off through Blurton onto Finstock Avenue and we turned left onto Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and left again onto Blurton Road. We went through the traffic lights onto Heron Street. We carried on forwards onto Station Bridge Road we turned left onto Christchurch Street and we turned left onto Masterson Street and we saw Stafford & District Community Link OW73 RYR. We turned right onto Watkin Street and we continued onto Temple Street and we turned right onto Smithpool Road and left onto City Road. We ran down the hill into Stoke and we joined the A52. We ran under the railway line and we crossed over the A500. We ran into Stoke town centre and around the one-way system. We turned left onto London Road and we ran through the West End to Oakhill. We ran past the former Oak Tree pub and into Trent Vale. We turned right onto the A34 and we stopped at the pub. Matthew had Sausage, egg beans and chips with bacon and 2 oatcakes washed down with a glass of Coke. for dessert Matthew had toffee sponge pudding and custard. Whilst we ate highlights of the passing buses included First Potteries 35936 on a #101 to Stafford. We got in the car and we set off onto the A34. We turned left onto London Road and we ran through Oak Hill and the the West End before running into Stoke Town centre and Campbell Place and onto the one way system. We followed the one-way system to the left onto Church Street and we veered left onto Liverpool Road. We veered right onto Elanora street and we followed the road to the right onto Copeland Street. We ran forwards onto Glebe Street and we followed the one way-system onto Church Street. We crossed over the A500 and we ran forwards onto City Road. We went under the railway line and we ran up City Road into Fenton. We turned right onto Smithpool Road and left onto Temple Street and back to the residential unit. I didn't have any pop in the car so we walked across to Co-op and Matthew had a small bottle of Dr Pepper. Afterwards we walkde back and Matthew went upstairs and Matthew chilled out in his room for a while. Later on Matthew attended a new Years Eve party. We went downstairs and the main lounge was filled with food. Matthew ate egg sandwiches and a burger followed by lots of cake! He also drank a bottle of Coke. Matthew stayed up until after midnight in order to see in the new year. Happy New Year 2025! Matthew went upstairs and we to bed around 00:30... Mark.