Trip to Newcastle / Hanley 18-02-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
34311	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Newcastle BS	22	First Potteries
32627	Newcstle BS	Hanley BS	25	First Potteries

Today we hadn't planned on doing anything! We had just been out on a big day out the day before, so we thought we would spend most of the time writing the blog. Matthew was up around 09:30, so I decided to check out what was on the early #22A turn. its quite rare to get anything good work on this turn, but it has dropped a step entranced double decker of 2 previous occasions this year. To my surprise i saw First Potteries 34311 heading towards me. Matthew quickly got dressed and he had a couple of crumpets for breakfast. It was a fine day and unseasonably warm. We walked around to he stop on Beaconsfield Drive to wait for the bus to appear. First potteries 53208 appeared on a Hanley bound #23 just before we saw 34311 approaching. Matthew got a picture of this bus before we boarded it.

First Potteries 34311 in Blurton

We got on and sat down upstairs. it was completely empty on the top deck, but it was quite warm and the windows were steamed up. As we set off we saw the other #22A turn and we was First Potteries 60194. On New in Lane we passed 40383 on a #21A and then 40010 on a #22. This particular service does not go through the hospital and it goes straight along the A34. When we reached Newcastle Matthew photographed the empty top deck.

Inside First Potteries 34311

When we reached Newcastle we had to figure out what to do next. We saw required 60069 heading towards Hanley on a #34 and we were about to do this when required decker 32627 appeared on a #25 to Hanley. Matthew got a picture of it and we boarded this bus and went upstairs.

First Potteries 32627 in Newcastle bus station

The bus was nearly empty upstairs and we sat somewhere in the middle. As we were leaving I was looking at an approaching double decker on a #25 service. we then saw 34286 enter the bus station at the bottom on a #72 service.We headed into stoke and due to an unsafe building in Stoke we divert down Shelton Old Road and Copeland Street. The bus stopped in Glebe Street instead on Church Street. We carried on along the normal route and we were in Hanley in no time. Wardle Transport 4895 had passed us on college road on an inbound X50 service. As we approached the stand we saw First Potteries 30029 pull of the stand having worked in. We got to the bus station and Matthew photographed the now empty top deck of 32627.

Inside First Potteries 32627

I had to go to work, so we formulated a plan. mum was going to come pick us up so we had a few minutes to take pictures before she came. We saw a few interesting workings whilst we were there. Bakerbus step entranced Mercedes 183 was on a #9 service and Wardle Transport 4650 was on a #61 to Tunstall.

Wardle Transport 4650 in Hanley bus station

Mum arrived and we walked back to the car. she drive us around the ring road to Shelton and we headed back via Shelton New Road and picked up LPG in Etruria. In Etruria we saw Pats Coaches M534 RSO whizz by. We then got on the A53 and headed South on the A500. We then went on the A50 and Stanley Matthews Way getting home around 12:00. We had dinner of burger and chips and he had chocolate fudge cake. I went to Work. Mum took Matthew to Longton. we went along the A5035 to longton and then went past the bus station. we parked up and went to the bank, before retuning back home and past the Z Carz depot. On the Depot today was D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

Maercedes minibus T131 SGA was there too and as we drove past, the Cannon Hiline coach V690 EBC arrived.

Z Carz V690 EBC in Longton

we then head home via Longton Hall Road and Naishe Drive. Matthew chose a Manchester Tart from the cake shop. Back home later on we had tea of chicken, roast potatoes and roast parsnips with gravy for afters. He then chilled out on his computer before bedtime...Mark

Trip to Hanley 19-01-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40375	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Hanley BS	23	First Potteries
2203	Hanley BS	Birches Head, adj Shops	41	Wardle Transport
41500	Birches Head, adj Shops	Hanley BS	38	First Potteries
4692	Hanley BS	Tunstall, adj stop M	61	Wardle Transport
60173	Tunstall, adj stop M	Hanley BS	21	First Potteries
183	Hanley BS	Biddulph, adj South View	9	Bakerbus

Today was going to be a walk at Westport Lake. Matthew was due to go to Heathfield in the morning and we were going to go walking in the afternoon. But the event at Heathfield was canceled the day before due to the heavy snowfall. We knew Matthew wouldn't be happy stuck at home on a Saturday, so we decided to travel on a few local buses. Matthew got up at 08:00 which is very unusual for him. We checked the weather and there was no more snow due today. I also checked the First Staffordshire sight to see if buses were running. The site showed that al services were running but there were some minor diversions around un-gritted or impassable roads. we also checked the Arriva site and there was no disruptions noted on their site either. Matthew had some toast for breakfast washed down with orange juice. I decided it would be a good idea to take some sandwich in case of emergency but we didn't have any sandwich meat in, so I waked to Aldi to pick some up. Whilst I was out i was able to check out how the buses were running locally and all seemed fine. Whilst out I saw Wardle Transport 2998 on the Plumline, Wardle Transport 2224 on a #350 to Newport. First Potteries 40147 & 40150 were out on #22's and 40175 on a #23 service. Back home today I decided it would be a good idea to have some hot food before we left. Matthew had a bacon sandwich and me and Uncle Dave had a stir fry. Matthew got dressed and we left home around 13:20. As we walked to the bus stop we spotted the 3rd #22 turn and it was First Potteries 40145. Matthew got a picture on the corner of Finstock Avenue.

First Potteries 40145 in Blurton

We carried onto the stop on Beaconsfield Drive missing a new Solo on a #23. As 40145 was still at the stop I asked Matthew if he wanted to go to Hanley or Longton and he chose Hanley. Whillst we waited we saw 40375 heading towards Newstead which we thought would probably our bus to Hanley. we also saw required First Potteries 42727 on a #23 to Longton. A few minutes later 40375 rounded the corner and Matthew got a picture.

First Potteries 40375 in Blurton

We tried to book a Smart ticket but the driver didn't have any of the protective wallets so one of us had a free ride to Hanley at least for now. We sat down near the back to enjoy our journey. It was the third time in the last year we had been on this bus, the last time was on a similar trip to Hanley back in November. We travelled through Blurton and Heron Cross, and through Fenton to Stoke. In Stoke we passed required First Potteries 32635 on a #25 Keele - Hanley service. We taveeled around the stoke one way system and on to the railway station. There were 2 coaches parked outside the station, presumebly on rail replacement work these were Global Travel T5 XLA and Hanley Travel G97 RGG. We carried on up past the college and then into Hanley. when we reached the bus station we entered the bus station but there were no empty stands so we went back out of the bus station onto Birch Terrace and back onto Lichfield street before re-entering the bus station to get onto a stand. The bus emptied and Matthew got a picture of the inside of the now empty 40375.

Inside First Potteries 40375

We went up on the balcony to look at buses. It was clear in part but there was some ice on the steps so we had to be careful going up and down. I went to fetch some chips whist Matthew and Uncle Dave stopped on the balcony. Dud Wardle Transport 4898 was on the X50 which is unusual, but not unusual enough for us to catch it over eating chips. However, he did get a picture of this bus.

Wardle Transport 4898 on the X50 in Hanley

We finished off our chips and we contemplated what to do next. Wardle transport 4687 was on the #61 which is unusual to get a decker on a Saturday, but we had been on this twice on New Years Eve. It was very cold and we knew had to do something quickly or get very cold indeed. We also saw Wardle Transport 2230 on the Northbound #500 to Norton. I tried to steer Matthew on one of the #25's so he could do one of the newer double deckers all of which are required. Eventually, we decided to do a #41 to Birches Head with Wardle Transport 2203. Matthew got a picture of this bus before we carefully went down the steps into the bus station to get on this bus.

Wardle Transport 2203 in Hanley bus station

We tried once again to get a Smart day ticket but the driver didn't have a wallet so that was another free journey! This was a bus that Matthew had done previously back in June last year. Whilst we waited to depart I noticed First Potteries 41500 was on stand on a #38 to birches Head. Also we saw Wardle Transport 3611 arrive on a #62 which is not an everyday sight. We had never done a Birches Head service before which is unusual considering all the interesting bus that have worked on the #38 in previous years. Also there has been some good buses working on the #41 with RML, D&G and latterly Wardle Transport too. We weren't familiar with the route but I thought the end of the route was circular, down through the newer houses and back through the terrace streets to edge of Hanley. As we left Hanley we saw required wardle Transport 4692 arrive on a #61 service. It is a bus that we have missed on a couple of occasions, on New Years Eve and the Wardle Transport running day. We saw a point which looked like the end, it was some shops on Diane road so we got off here. Not before Matthew had taken a picture of the empty bus.

Inside Wardle Transport 2203

We were considering going to the shop when we saw First Potteries 41500 approaching. I asked Matthew if he wanted to get the bus or go to the shop and he opted for the bus. He got a picture of required 41500 before we got on it.

First Potteries 41500 in Birches Head

On our third journey of the day we managed to get our Smart day ticket. The bus was empty so he got a picture of of the empty 41500 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 41500

We set of back into Hanley, and as we reached the townsend area I asked matthew if he wanted to get of and wait for 4692 on the #61 (it was 1459 and I thought the #61 left hanley at 15:00). He said no and it turned out to be a good move by him. We got into hanley bus station around 15:10 and we went up to the balcony to see that 4692 was still over in the parking area. I downloaded the #61 timetable and saw that the Saturday #61 left at half past the hour. By this time we only had around 12 minutes to wait for the bus. So we took a few picture before we saw 4692 move out of the parking area around 15:25. The bus pulled on stand and we got pictures of the bus before we carefully went down the steps again to catch the bus.

Wardle Transport 4692 in Hanley

We got on the bus and waited for time. Matthew got his empty bus picture as we awaited time.

Inside Wardle Transport 4692

As we set off we went down the row and we spotted 41540 'Not in Service' parked up in the parking area along with Wardle Transport 1406 and 1460 and Bakerbus step-entranced Volvo B6 227. We set off to Sneyd Green and then into Smallthorne as we headed to Chell we passed a couple of #21/29s in Bradeley. Dud 60136 was on a hanley bound #29 and 60173 was on a Trentham bound #21. We got to Tunstall and got off at the top of the high street so we could visit the public toilet. Matthew used the disabled toilet and inside there was a leaflet for the park and ride service. The fare was £1 and the bus on the leaflet was a step entranced Mercedes minibus so how old this leaflet is I don't know. I had asked Matthew if had wanted to go to Longport to meet mum and he had said no as he wasn't done for the day yet. That left us with perhaps a trip to Biddulph on a #99 or maybe back to Hanley on either a #20/20 or #21/29. We saw 60189 on a Kidsgrove bound #20A and we also saw 60173 again on the #21 to Trentham. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do 60173 and he said yes. He didn't get a picture of 60173 before we boarded but here is one he took in November 2011.

First Potteries 60173

When we got on 60173 it was almost empty and he got one as we got on.

Inside First Potteries 60173

I texted mum to say we were probably on our penultimate bus, and we would let her know where we were going to be picked up from if indeed we did need picking up. I thought the journey was going to take around 40 minutes and I was surprised when it only took around 25. We got into Hanley bus station just as it was going dark. We got off and Matthew immediately spotted a step entranced Mercedes at the other end of the bus station. It was dud Bakerbus 183 which he hadn't been on since he had a very short run on it in Stone back in June 2011. He got a picture of this bus and then we got on it.

Bakerbus 183 in Hanley bus station

We set of out of Hanley and then down Smallthorne bank. We passed 41498 on a Hanley bound #8 service. It was now fully dark and we headed up through Fegg Hayes and Brindley Ford. I had called up mum to arrange to meet her at Biddulph Sainsbury's. Eventually we pulled up in Biddulph High Street and we got off the bus. Matthew got another picture of this fine beast before we set off towards mum.

Bakerbus 183 in Biddulph High Street

We walked down to the car to meet mum. The plan had been to drop the bag off at the car and then go into sainbury's to get lottery tickets and some food, but Matthew decided to get n the car. We Drove out of Biddulph Southbound on the A527. We passed First Potteries 61237 on a Biddulph bound #7A. We got to the top of high lane and we spotted the Tesco express on the left so we decided to stop here. We saw First Potteries 60063 go past on a 21. In the shop Matthew had some coke, a milky Way and a chocolate cake for later. We got the lottery tickets and Matthew said hello to a couple of people in the shop. We carried on along the a527 nd we decided to take Matthew to the MacDonalds on the A50. After we had picked him up some food from the driver through we got back on the A527 and e did it down to the A500. We did this southbound to the A50 and we went to Longton so he could see what was on the Z Carz depot. There were only 3 buses there, and one of them was Mercedes minibus T131 SGA.

Z Carz T131 SGA in Longton in the snow

We then went down Longton Hall Road and then home, getting in around 18:15. Matthew finished off his MacDonalds and then settled down for the evening. For a late tea he had Sausage carrots and mash and his chocolate cake he brought earlier. He then spent time on his computer before bedtime around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Stone 18-06-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
182	Trentham Road,	Granville Square, Stone	351	Bakerbus
110	Granville Square, Stone	Prior Road	2	D&G
110	Prior Road	Granville Square, Stone	2	D&G
91	Granville Square, Stone	Stone, Geoff Keys Garage (opp)‎	490	D&G
183	Stone, Geoff Keys Garage (opp)‎	Whitebridge Estate, Filleybrooks Garage (opp)	350	Bakerbus
65039	Whitebridge Estate, Filleybrooks Garage (adj)	Granville Square, Stone	101	First Potteries
200	Stone	Stoke Railway Station	X1	Bakerbus
6	Stoke Railway Station	Church Street, Stoke	41	D&G
115	Church Street, Stoke	Stoke Railway Station	41	D&G
2931	Signal Radio, Stoke road	Maternity Ward, City General	58	Wardle Transport

Today we had decided we were going to head towards Stone again and cover the 350's and the X1. We also saw a Mercedes minibus on the Stone town service last week and as we havn't been on any of the current minibuses we thought that this would probably a new bus for Matthew. Today I went out at 09:30 and 10:30 to see the 350's. The bus buses were on exactly the same turns as last week, so we knew there was one required bus out on the 350. Setting off just before 12:30, we decided to head South on the 350 today so we waited at the bus shelter on Trentham Road. this was a fortunate choice today because it was raining! Whilst we were waiting we saw 181 go north on the #350, 40143 heading towards Newcastle and 40148 heading towards Longton.


40148 on a Longton bound #22 service (Matt)

As the 351 goes from Stoke to Longton before continuing towards Stone, This South bound turn is a few minutes later than the other buses. Eventually as predicted 182 arrives on this turn. This turn is quite well filled compared to some of the other 350's we've done. Presumably because of it's extra run into Longton. We do this bus to Granville Square, Stone where Matthew gets a picture.


Bakerbus 182 in Granville Square Stone (Matt)

Shortly after we arrive in Stone, D&G 110 appears on the Stone town services. The next one was a #2 at 13:05. We book our tickets and we do a complete circle of this service. As we get off Matthew photographs the inside of this bus.


Inside D&G 110 (Matt)

He also gets a good picture of the outside too...


D&G 110 about to work a #1 Stone town service (Matt)

The next planned move was to do the #490 round town and out along Newcastle Road. Whilst we were waiting we started eating our supplies (a 6 pack of mini sausage rolls from wrights Pies). Also D&G 107 appears on the #250 to Longton.


D&G 107 on a 250 to Longton (Matt)

A couple of minutes later D&G 110 come back again to work another #2 town service.


D&G 110 about to work a #2 Stone town service

After that town service leaves again we wait patiently until the 490 appears. It's D&G 91 which is a required bus. As we went around town and headed North, I couldn't remember passing the southbound 350. I thought if we could catch this to the other side of Stone, we could do 183 on the Northbound service back out along Newcastle Road. We got off the 490 on Newcastle Road and Matthew took a picture as D&G 91 headed North(??) towards Stafford...


D&G 91 heading North on the 490 to Stafford (Matt)

We crossed the road hoping that we might catch the 350, but it must have passed us whilst we were going around the town centre. After a few minute we crossed back over the road. I decided we could still do 183 a couple of stops up the road, and we would either get a 101 or the X1 back into Stone. Sure enough, as predicted 183 appears on the Northbound 350.


Bakerbus 183 on a #350 to Hanley in Newcastle Road (Matt)

We do the bus a couple of stops up the road and Matthew is undoing his seatbelt almost as soon as it was done up!


183 continues North towards Hanley (Matt)

In order to make sure we are back in Stone for either X1'a (Bakerbus to Hanley or the D&G to Stone) we decided to do the next bus whatever it is. it started rain quite heavily, but we didn't have to wait long. We were relieved to see the next bus, which happened to be first Potteries 65039.


65039 on a #101 towards Stafford (Matt)

We did this back down to Granville Square, where almost immediately we saw Bakerbus 200 on the X1 Stone. We Rushed off to get this bus and missed seeing what was on the X1 Stafford. After a rapid journey up the A34, through Barlaston, past Trentham gardens and up The A500 we arrived at Stoke railway station.


Bakerbus 200 outside Stoke railway station (Matt)

At this point, we had planned on sitting for a while and having something to eat then doing something D&G or Bakerbus on the tickets we already had. We had to put plans for eating to one side as step entranced D&G 6 appeared on a Newcastle bound #41. We raced a cross the road and jumped on the bus. No time for a photograph, we did this bus to Church Street, Stoke. he did get a picture of the door release as he left the bus, but once again the bus left the stop quite quickly. In Stoke we saw a few buses including D&G 139 on a Hanley bound #41.


D&G 139 on a #41 to Hanley (Matt)

The plan had been to catch 183 on the 350 back to Blurton. Just as 350 was approaching, Matthew spotted D&G 12 on a #41 to Newcastle. We let the #350 go, forgetting the #41 doesn’t stop in Glebe Street and it went sailing past too. We went around to Church Street but it had left before we could get to the stop :-(. Almost immediately, D&G 115 appeared from the other direction on a #41 so we decided to do this back to the railway station.


D&G 115 on a #41 to Hanley (Matt)

When we arrived at the station I was starting to wonder how we could get home. I remember I had the Wardle Transport timetable book in my bag so I looked up the route and timings of the 58. Last time i had seen this service it was ex Arriva Burton 2038 in the new Wardle / Arriva livery. It turned out there was a 58 from outside signal radio in a few minutes, so we walked along to stoke Road. I arranged with mum to pick us up at the hospital. After a couple of minutes Wardle Transport 'BU54 ALL' 2931 appeared.


Wardle Transport 2931 on a #58 to Newcastle (Matt)

We did this to the hospital where we had about a 10 minutes wait for mum. Luckily there was a shelter because it started raining again. Whilst we were waiting we didn't see a single bus. e did see 2 buses just as we got picked up. We had a quick stop in Hanford to pick up food and we went home. As we returned home by car it absolutely poured down with rain so it seems that we timed the end of our day quite well... Mark

Trip to Stafford 11-06-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
181	Blurton, Selby Walk (adj)	Stoke Station	350	Bakerbus
218	Stoke Station	Barlaston, Orchard Place (adj)	X1	Bakerbus
181	Barlaston, Whitethorn Avenue (adj)	Walton, Ambulance Station (opp)‎	350	Bakerbus
24	Granville Square, Stone	Chell Road, Stafford	X1	D&G

Today we decided to stay fairly local and cover the #350's. This is a service which is almost always worked by step entranced buses, and Matthew had only been on 3 of their collection of Mercedes minibuses that usually work this service. I went out at 10;30 onto the A5035 to try and view 2 of the 3 buses, only I didn't go out quite early enough and only saw 1; 182 was working the 10:10 Hanley - Stone. This bus works past every hour even hours towards Stone and Odd hour towards Hanley. At 11;30 I saw both buses... 183 working towards Newport and 182 working towards Hanley. Originally, we had planned to do the 12:10 off Hanley towards Stone, but we now knew that 182 was going to be on this service (not required). The only unknown bus on the 350's at this point was the 11:20 Newport - Hanley. We decided to go North on the #350 and then to return South on the X1. Apart from printing out various timetables, we packed emergency rations of Shandy, Tizer and sausage rolls. We planned on getting to Stafford just after 15:00, so we arranged to meet up with mum then. Just before time we walked across to the stop on the A5035 near Newstead. After a short wait Bakerbus 181 turned up which was very much required!


Bakerbus 181 on the #350 to Hanley (Matt)

We worked out that if we got off at the station we would have around 5 minutes to wait for the X1 to Stone. So that's exactly what we did.


Bakerbus 181 Outside Stoke Station on the #350 to Hanley (Matt)

We crossed the road and waited the 5 minutes. In the Interim 40383 was working a 23 to Blurton, 66842 was on a 25 to Keele and D&G 132 was on a #41 to Clayton. We were expecting a big silver route branded bus, which we haven’t been on before. Instead we got Volvo B6 218 which we also required.


Bakerbus 218 on the X1 to Stone (Matt)

I contemplated whether to do this bus to stone or get off at Barlaston and get another run on Bakerbus 181. We decided to get off in Barlaston. The reasoning behind this is that we might be able to get chips here, it's would be quiet and we would get more step entranced miles. A few minutes later we alighted in Barlaston.


Bakerbus 218 in Barlaston (Matt)

When we got off, It had started to rain so we went straight to the bus stop for the Stone bound #350. When Matthew and Uncle Dave settle in the bus stop, i went for a short walk to try and find a chippy. It turns out that there isn't a chippy in that part of Barlaston, so I went to a shop and picked up a few Kit Kats. Whilst I was away Matthew photographed the Northbound #350 with 182 in charge.


Bakerbus 182 in Barlaston (Matt)

We worked out that we could have done 182 North probably as far as Newstead to catch the bus we were waiting for. Either that or meet up with the next X1 at stoke station. The plan when we got on 181 again was to do the bus just south of Stone and catch the 13:20 Newport back into Stone. After about a 30 minute wait, Bakerbus 181 appeared.


Bakerbus 181 on the #350 to Newport (Matt)

The bus headed south and then joined up with the A34. When we eached Stone, we saw another couple of D&G bus duties. D&G 95 was working a #3 stone town circular service, and D&G 90 was on a 352 Stone - Yarnfield shuttle. The bus was running due to a road closure at Cold Meece and the diversion of the 490 Stone - Stafford. Just South of Stone town centre there appeared to be some kind of carnival. traffic was at a near standstill and it looked unlikely we would catch the #350 going North with Bakerbus 183. just as we turned into the Walton Road, the other 350 went in front of us. Bowled out!


Bakerbus 181 in Walton on the 350 to Newport (Matt)

We walked back up into Crown Street fighting our way through the crowds. just as we reached the Crown Street stop Bakerbus 183 appeared at the stop. We had to decide whether to do this for one stop around the corner. In the end we decided not to, at least this leaves us at lest one bus to come out on the #350's for in the future. We used the facilities in Crown Street and then set off towards Granville Square. As we turned the corner towards the square, the X1 from Hanley appeared with Bakerbus solo 200


Bakerbus 200 on the X1 (Matt)

Seconds after that, we saw a non-Scania Omnicity on a Northbound 101 service, ex Chester 61554.


First Potteries 61554 working a #101 to Hanley (Matt)

When we got to Granville square, Bakerbus Optare Solo 200 was awaiting time before returning to Hanley. You can still see where the 77 sunset strip vinyl’s used to be.


Bakerbus 200 in Granville Square on the X1 to Hanley (Matt)

We had about 15 minutes to wait before the D&G X1 Stafford service, so we sat under the tree and ate sausage rolls. I t had now stopped raining but it seemed to be wetter under the tree than outside it. I was expecting a Dart or maybe even a Mercedes minibus. I was surprised when a full length single decker DAF appeared!


D&G in Granville Square, Stone about to work the X1 to Stafford (Matt)

As we boarded the bus another D&G appeared on a service 249. It was probably either 106 or 107 as it had a turquoise seat moquette. Matthew also photographed the empty DAF.


Inside D&G 24 (Matt)

The journey to Stafford was quite speedy, with the only thing that made the journey longer was the direction of travel. heading off towards Rugeley before heading back into Stafford via the university and hospital. at around 15:18 we arrived in Chell Road Stafford.


D&G 24 in Chell Road, Stafford on the X1 (Matt)

As we came into stafford from the South East, we past a few buses on the stops around the corner from Chell Road. 2 of the buses there were out of Matthew's favourite Arriva Midlands batch P--- FEA Plaxton bodied Darts, First to follow us around the corner was Arriva Midlands 2306


Arriva Midlands 2306 in Chell Road Stafford (Matt)

After we crossed the road to Sainsbury's, 2307 made an appearance.


Arriva Midlands 2307 in Chell Road Stafford (Matt)

After sighting for around 25 minutes we met up with mum and got in the car to go home. On the way back we stopped just North of Stafford for a few chips to share between the four of us. After we set off north we passed 61554 coming into Stafford on the #101 service. We also saw D&G 39 on a #432 service. We got home around 16:30... Mark