Trip to Hanley / Kidsgrove 27-05-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2531	Newstead, adj Magdalen Road	Longton TI	22	Wardle transport
60063	Longton TI	Hanley BS	6B	First Potteries
61531	Hanley BS	Kidsgrove Town Centre, adj Queen Street	7	First Potteries
65732	Kidsgrove Town Centre, opp St Johns RC Primary School	Hanley BS	20A	First Potteries
2410	Hanley BS	Endon, adj The Plough Hotel	18	Wardle Transport

Today we decided to go out for a few hours around tea time. Matthew got up around 11:00 and had some toast and orange juice for breakfast. Matthew chilled out on the computer and i went to view the buses on the local services First Potteries 40030 & 40373 were on the #23/23a turns and Wardle Transport 2531 was on the #22 turn. Non of the buses were required, but we didn't have anything better to do so we decided to go out. We had a late dinner of Chicken and potatoes around 15:00 followed by lemon meringue cheesecake. Around 16:20 we set off to the bus stop. As it was now raining we walked to the stop on the A5035 as it has a shelter. Around 16:35 the bus turned up and was Wardle Transport 2531 as expected.

Wardle Transport 2531 in Blurton

We got on the bus and sat at the back of the bus. This could have possibly been the last Sunday #22 bus into Longton. Unless someone steps in and agrees to run this service from next week, or the council suddenly find some money this Sunday service may never run again. The journey was swift and over all too soon. We got to Longton and the last five people got off this bus and then Matthew took a picture inside this vehicle.

Inside Wardle Transport 2531

We waited around the side of the bus station for the bus to set off to Newcastle for the last time. The bus pulled off stand and paused in the bus station wist Matthew took a picture.

Wardle Transport 2531 in Longton transport interchange

We let 61556 on a #26 to Newcastle go, we also let 60004 which was on a #6B to Blythe Bridge go too. 60063 pulled into the bus station on a #6B to Longton so we decided to get on it.

First Potteries 60063 in Longton transport interchange

This bus was not required, but it was a long time ago when we last had it back in July 2009! We sat down at the back and there was only one other person on this bus. I can't remember anyone getting on this bus either. The bus went down King Street and Victoria Road. We crossed Joiners Square and went into Hanley up Lichfield Street. When we got to Hanley bus station Matthew waited for the one person to get off the bus and then he photographed the empty 60063.

Inside First Potteries 60063

We got off the bus and Matthew visited the toilet. After a bit of a wander around Matthew sat down and had a small bottle of Limeade and most of a Galaxy Caramel which he shared with me. We saw an interesting Ex Chester Scania which I thought was required, First Potteries 61531. It was going to Kidsgrove on a #7 so we decided to gt on it.

First Potteries 61531 in Hanley bus station

We sat down near the back. The bus was quite well filled. As we went off it turned out not to be required, but he had only done this us once before. We set off out of Hanley along High Lane and through Smallthorne. Here we passed 61553 on an inbound #7 short from Chell. We carried on through Packmoor and into Kidsgrove from the east side. When we arrived we were the last 2 people on this bus. We got off and took a picture of the inside of the empty 61531.

Inside First Potteries 61531

Matthew visited the public toilet here, and then we walked onto the a50 to see when then next bus to Hanley was due. It had just turned 18:00 and the next bus, a #20A was not due into 18:28. We decided to visit the Moorland Takeaway and have a portion of fries between us and 2 cans of Coke. We checked out the time of the next #34A (18:29) and then we walked to the bus stop outside Kidsgrove job centre to sit and shelter whilst we ate the fries. Matthew wouldn't let me have a can of Coke, but he did let me share his. We waited for the bus, keeping an eye out in the other direction for the #34A which was due at roughly the same time. Both buses turned up at the same time, both a coupe of minutes late. Ours came first, and it was dud First Potteries 65732.

First Potteries 65732 in Kidsgrove

We sat down near the back. First Potteries Dart 40144 appeared on the #34A service. 65732 is bus we had done back in August 2011. We set off towards Tunstall along the A50 picking up plenty of passengers on the way. i was really impressed when it stopped on Kidsgrove bank and pulled away from the stop with ease. We carried on through Tunstall passing First Potteries Solo 40026 on a #21 on Bradeley. We went trough Buslem and Cobridge and then into Hanley along Hope Street and Stafford Street. We pulled into the bus station and Matthew waited for bus to empty before getting a picture inside this fine beast.

Inside First Potteries 65732

So far we hadn't had much luck in picking up required buses. We sat down in the bus station and waited for soething intersting to turn up. required first Potteries 60060 was parked up and about to work something. Also first potteries 61238 came in aon a #6b to Blythe Bridge. Matthew turned this down and we shared another can of Coke whist we waited. The Wardle transport 2410 appeared on the doomed Sunday eveving service to leek. I checked the 'Buses have traveled on' page and found it was required. We decided to this and Matthew got a picture of this required Dart before we boarded it.

Wardle Transport 2410 in Hanley bus station

We got onto this bus and there was one other person on this service. Matthew took a picture from half way down the bus before we sat down.

Inside Wardle Transport 2410

We set off at 19:15 out of Hanley towards Sneyd Green. We passed First Potteries 65037 near the Berwick pub which was sitting with the rear engine cover open. We headed onto the A53 and then turned towards Leek. The bus took no time to run up to Endon where we had arranged to meet mum. As we stood up to get off Matthew photographed the blue lighting in this vehicle.

Lighting inside Wardle Transport 2410

We got off and waited for mum to appear. Mum turned up about 10 minutes later and we got in the car. We headed back down the A53 and then divert to Captain Kooks, but it wasn't open today. We then headed into Hanley along High Lane and then around the ring road to Broad Street. We stopped at Chunky Chicken and Matthew used the toilet here. To eat Matthew had a chicken burger and fries was down with orange Tango. After we had finished we drove home Via Stoke Road, The A500, the A50 and Stanley Matthews Way getting back around 20:45. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30...Mark

Trip to the 'Potteries Connection' running day 05-08-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
55	Gladstone pottery Museum	Stone, Crown Street	252	Bournemouth (Preserved)
55	Stone, Crown Street	Gladstone pottery Museum	252	Bournemouth (Preserved)
4777	Gladstone pottery Museum	Hanley BS	6	Wardle Transport
EEH902Y	Hanley BS	Gladstone pottery Museum	6	Midland Red North (Preserved)

Today Smart Matthew and the staff at his respite unit had plans. They were going to Bath today. He was too excited and didn't sleep until 03:30. He was looking at Bath's latest bus on Dorchester Street thinking about his next visit. Matthew was in his new respite unit today, so we arranged for them to take him out to the 'Potteries Connection' running day as this is one of the local highlights of the bus calender. We arranged for a PA to go in and help out with his trip. Matthew got up around 07:00. Matthew had some toast for breakfast. He saw Z Carz T131 SGA to Bath out of the window. Unfortunately the had to cancel last minute due to a fault on the vehicle. we drove to Longton and waited for the coach around 09:15. after a few minutes, we phoned up to see where the coach was and we were told the bad news. We got in the car and drove from Longton to the depot to sort things out. Whilst mum spoke to the control Matthew got a picture of the coach we were due to be on. We went into the office to mum and we sorted out a new date for a trip on this coach. A member of the staff then took Matthew onto the coach in order for him to take a few pictures of the inside. They then went to Longton and then walked in to the Gladstone Pottery Museum car park where the event is held. we also saw Wardle Transport 2531 on the #22 Newcastle service. They brought a programme and Matthew purchased a few photographs from on of the stalls. They also spent a short amount of time taking pictures. One such picture was of this fine example of a Leyland Lynx.

Ex PMT 860 in Stoniers livery at the Gladstone Museum

we also saw National Express AFH 186T and PMT Daimler Fleetliner 147. Another bus we saw was Plaxton bodied coach Bassetts JRE 354V displaying 'Blackpool' on the front. we also saw Midland Red JHA 227L. We also saw PMT L466 and Turners 10. Matthew also spied Bournemouth 55, which we had been on previously to Barlaston back in May.

Preserved Bournemouth 55 at the Gladstone Museum

Matthew decided he was going to do this and so they did it on a run to Stone. The bus went along the A50 to Meir, and then onto the A520 down to Stone. When they went around Stone, they went past Morrisons. They then got off behind the Crown Hotel. Matthew got another picture of this fine beast.

Preserved Bournemouth 55 in Stone

They then went back to Gladstone on the same bus. They went around Stone and back onto the A520. They did this up to Meir and then onto the A50 to Longton. When then got back they saw Wardle Transport 4777 about to work to Hanley and so they decided to do this too. They got on and they went upstairs. The bus got onto the A50 to Heron Cross and then went on Victoria Road. They crossed the roundabout over Joiners Square and then went up to Hanley and then into the bus station. As he was about to get off Matthew got a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside Wardle Transport 4777

Whilst in Hanley we saw First Potteries 60189 on a #20 service.Going from to Hanley was preserved Midland Red North 1902. we also went upstairs on this bus too. He wasn't able to get a decent picture of this bus. They went down Through Joiners Square to Fenton. At Victoria place they got onto the link road and then onto the A50 up to longton. Whilst at Gladstone he also saw Bournemouth Transport 103. It was then off along the A5035 to Blurton. They saw Wardle Transport 2531 on the #22 service. They went to the Gables for Lunch. Matthew ate gammon, egg and chips, with bread and butter. For dessert he had chocolate fudge cake and custard. He also had a coke. When he was finished he went to the toilet. It was then time to go back to the respite unit. They went back past Longton Transport interchange. we They saw V690 EBC at the Z Carz depot. They set off back around 13:30. The route back was along Anchor Road to Adderley Green and then on to Bucknall. He then settled down to an afternoon in his new respite unit. Using his computer, watching telly and running around outside in the garden. For tea he had fish and chips with a yogurt for afters. He then had bath before bedtime..Mark.