Trip to the 'Potteries Connection' running day 28-09-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
53828	Blurton, adj Ladybank Grove	Fenton (Stoke-on-Trent), adj Clifton Street	23	First potteries
65040	Fenton (Stoke-on-Trent), adj Victoria Place	Longton (Stoke-on-Trent), opp St James' Church	6B	First Potteries
30033	Gladstone pottery Museum	Hanley, Bethesda Street	Special	First PMT (Preserved)
GSO 90V	Hanley, Bethesda Street	Gladstone pottery Museum	Special	Bluebird (Preserved)
ORS 60R	Gladstone pottery Museum	Foxfield Railway	Special	Berresfords (Preserved)
ORS 60R	Foxfield Railway	Gladstone pottery Museum	Special	Berresfords (Preserved)
170	Gladstone pottery Museum	Hanley, Bethesda Street	Special	Bournemouth (Preserved)
170	Hanley, Bethesda Street	Gladstone pottery Museum	Special	Bournemouth (Preserved)
H860 GRE	Gladstone pottery Museum	Hanley, Bethesda Street	Special	Stoniers (Preserved)
H860 GRE	Hanley, Bethesda Street	Gladstone pottery Museum	Special	Stoniers (Preserved)
DOG104	Gladstone pottery Museum	Trentham Gardens	Special	Crosville (Preserved)
DOG104	Trentham Gardens	Gladstone pottery Museum	Special	Crosville (Preserved)

Today was Matthew second biggest day of his bus related social calender...the Potteries Connection running day. After a good night sleep I woke Matthew up just before 10:00 and he came down and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Mum had gone out for the morning, so once Matthew was up I phoned uncle Dave to arrange a time and a place to meet to travel up to the main site of the rally, which is of course at the Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton. There is now no longer a direct bus from Blurton to Longton on a Sunday. So we had to travel down to Fenton, to catch either a #1 or a #6 service. Before we could catch that though, we had to get to Fenton. We set off on foot just before 10:30 with the aim of intercepting the 10:32 #23 service from Newstead to Hanley. We walked all the way to the Ladybank Grove stop, and when we got there there was a young man with a Rottweiler at the stop who kept barking at matthew every time he made a noise. The bus came around the corner and it was required First Potteries 53828.

First Potteries 53828 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked to Christchurch Street in Fenton. Matthew was very well behaved and didn't attempt to honk the horn on this Optare Solo... We sat down a few seats in front of the Rottweiler and th bus set off through Blurton Farm estate and onto Blurton Road. We passed Lightning T2 DLT near to the Lighning house, and we crossed the A50 and went into Fenton along Heron Street. At Christchurch Road we turned left and when we got near to Albert Square, we got up and got off the bus. Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 53828 as it carried on towards Stoke.

First Potteries 53828 in Fenton

We walked towards the square where we met up with uncle Dave. It seemed very busy in this part of Fenton with people in the square. We walked up towards City Road and as we did we saw preserved PMT Leyland National 279 going towards Longton. We also saw my old car! We carried onto Victoria Square and we waited at the stop. going the other way towards Hanley we saw dud First Potteries Scanias 65040 and 60175. We seemed to wait for quite a while, longer than the 20 minute frequency timetable suggested we should have waited. It was quite warm for September, and I ended up taking my jacket and jumper off. Eventually First Potteries 65040 turned up.

First Potteries 65040 in Fenton

We got on the bus and booked to Uttoxeter Road and the driver saw the First bus rucksack and asked if we were going to the bus rally. We first had 65040 back in from Hanford to Stafford back in February 2012. Matthew decided he wanted sit on the two seats behind the driver, and uncle Dave sat further back down the bus. Th bus carried on up City Road, which became King Street as we went closer towards Longton. We went under the railway line and the bus went into Longton Interchange. We saw First Potteries 60057 and 60175 which had caught us up. A minute or so later we carried on out of the interchange and onto Market Street. On Uttoxeter Road quarter a mile or so up the road after the the one way system finished we got off the bus outside St James Church. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 65040 as it carried on towards Blythe Bridge.

First Potteries 65040 in Longton

We crossed over Uttoxeter road and walked down towards the Gladstone Pottery Museum. The is a short cut into the car park off the road, and when we climbed the steps we saw the first bus on the site, dud Midland Fox GJW 43N.

Midland Fox GJW 43N in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We walked through the site, and most of the buses that were not running in the rally were parked on the left hand side of the site as viewed from Chadwick Street. Amongst these buses and coaches was DW Coaches BIG 2094 which was on JB Tours charter from Doncaster to the event.

DW Coaches BIG 2094 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

Another bus not running in the rally was Crosville 783 EFW.

Crosville 783 EFW in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

Closest to Chadwick Street was Posh Limo Iveco minibus P20 SSH.

Posh Limos P20 SSH in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We purchased a rally programme at £3 and continued looking around the site. Most of the running entrants to the rally were parked towards the right hand side of the site in two rows. In the back row was dud First PMT 866.

First PMT 866 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

Also in the back row was dud Midland Red 1918.

Midland Red 1918 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We had been there long, when we saw T Deakins fine Leyland Olympian First PMT 30033 (G757 XRE).

First PMT 30033 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

It was on a service on a service to Hanley and Stoke station, so we decided to do this bus. We got on the free service and went upstairs. The bus set off out of the site and across the A50. We went past Z Carz and joined the A50. And this fine example of an Olypian, which showed off it speed on the dual carriageway. We came of the main A50 and onto the A50 link Road before heading down Victoria Road. We crossed the roundabout at Joiners Square and went up Lichfield Street to the ring road around Hanley We turned Left onto the ring road and then right onto Bethesda Street. The bus stopped outside the Museum. There was another bus outside the museum, so we got to take a picture. It was required Bluebird GSO 90V.

Bluebird GSO 90V outside Hanley museum

Originally we had planned to go back on the Olympian, but we couldn't resist getting at least one new preserved bus in for the day. We got on this great example of a Leyland Leopard / Alexander 'Y' type single decker, and we sat down towards the rear of the bus. The bus had duplicated the previous run 20 minutes earlier, but for some reason was still outside the museum. The bus set off onto Broad Street and across the ring road onto Snow Hill. At the top of college Road the bus turned into left and we went down College Road to the railway station. After a brief pause here, the bus went towards City road along the A52. We turned left at City Road, and went directly to Longton up King Street. The bus went around the one way system, coming back into the site via Normacott Road and Chadwick Street. The bus pulled onto the car park and we waited for the bus to unload before Matthew took a picture inside Bluebird GSO 90V.

Inside Bluebird GSO 90V

We got off the bus and we had around 5 minutes for the next bus that we wanted to catch, Berresfords liveried Leyland Leopard ORS 60R was on the next service to the Foxfield Railway. Whilst we were there we had time to take a few nore pictures. Stantons of stoke open top double decker JTF 218F was just leaving on a service to Trentham Gardens.

Stantons of Stoke JTF 218F in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

Also leaving the site was PMT Leyalnd Atlantean 766.

PMT 766 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

A few minutes later we saw the driver jump into ORS 60R and drove the bus up to the bus stop.We let the bus load up before getting a quick picture and then jumping on it.

'Berresfords' ORS 60R at the Gladstone Pottery Museum

WE sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off onto Uttoxteter Road and towards Normacott. We joined the Eastbound A50 and we went through Meir tunnel, the Leopard engine resonating all around as we traveled through it. We came off the A50 at Catchems Corner and we joined the road to Blythe Bridge. After we had crossed the level crossing we turned left and climb up the hill to the Foxfield Railway. The coach turned around and parked up to wait a few minutes before returning. We got off and we took pictures of Berresfords ORS 60R.

'Berresfords' ORS 60R at Foxfield Railway

Besides the railway engines, there was a minibus doing a shuttle service to the colliery site. You had to pay for railway tickets to do the bus though. It was being worked by required Masons B13 PSV.

Masons B13 PSV at Foxfield Railway

We got back on Berresfords ORS 60R and we sat down at the back for the return journey. he bus set off down the hil and we turned right at the bottom of the lane and across the level crossing. We joined the Westbound A50 and we went through the tunnel again, coming off the A50 at Normacott. We went along Uttoxeter Road and we took the tight left turn into Chadwick Street passing required Bournemouth 103 coming the other way. We got off the bus and we waited a few minutes for mum at the edge of the site. She was running a little late so we walked down the A5035 to Go Eat and we met up with mum there. Whilst there matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke, and he had a millionaires shortbread, which went into the trip bag for later. Mum took us back up to Gladstone and we said goodbye again as she left us there for the afternoon. We were just in time to do Bournemouth 170, which was about to work the 14:20 to Hanley.

Bournemouth 170 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We decided to do this bus as a filler move whilst we waited to get Stoniers liveried 860 which was working the 15:00 to Hanley. We got on Bournemouth 170 and we went upstairs. This was a bus we first had at this event last year. This bus set off out of the Gladstone site and onto the A50. The bus took the same route as 30033 had done earlier. A50, A50 Link Road, Victoria Road, Lichfeld Street, Hanley ring road and onto Bethesda Street. When the bus got to the museum we got off and took another picture of Bournemouth 170.

Bournemouth 170 outside Hanley museum

When the bus was due to return, it took similar route to the railway station along Broad Street, Snow Hill and College Road. When it left the railway station it went along the A52 before we turned onto the A50 link Road and into Longton along the A50 and along Normacott Road and Chadwick Street. We left the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Bournemouth 170.

Inside Bournemouth 170

We had around 5 minutes to kill before 860 was due depart. Matthew decided to visit the Busflix gazebo and checck out the DVD's. We picked the local DVD and whilst he was considering buying another one, we saw 860 move onto the stop. We quickly paid £10 for the DVD and went out to catch required H860 GRE.

Stonier H860 GRE in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

This is a bus that had been in preservation for a few years but we keep missing it. That was until now... We got on the bus and we sat down towards the back of the bus. This Leyland Lynx is a modern classic, with original grey & maroon zig-zag moquette as was the standard with all new buses in the late 80's and early 90's. The bus went upto Hanley along the same route as the other 3 trip had made. When we got to Hanley we jumped off to get another picture.

Stonier H860 GRE outside Hanley museum

Matthew decided he wanted to go toilet. We went into the museum and Matthew used the facilities whilst I brought us a couple of lollies. One of the guys working at the museum asked if we were going on the bus as they were holding it up until we were ready. we rushed Matthew out of the toilet and we jogged over to the waiting bus, sitting down towards the back. The bus left the Bethesda Road and we went down to the railway station via College Road. We departed the railway station and we went back to the site via the A52 City Road, King Street, Market Street and Uttoxeter Road before coming back into Chadwick Street from the opposite end. When we got back We let the bus empty out so Matthew could take a picture inside this single decker with a classic PMT interior.

Inside Stonier H860 GRE

We got off the bus and Matthew spotted that there had been a new North Staffs fleet list book produced by POPS, so we walked over to their trade stand a brought a copy at £4. We then sat by the bus stop to wait for the 15:45 which was booked to be 30033. It appeared 30033 had suffered a minor failure at some point, so was able to do the service as booked. A replacement was found in the form of Former PMT 30039, which now carries its original Crosville livery and fleet number DOG104.

Crosville DOG 104 in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus and he said yes, so we got on board and went upstairs. As the top deck was empty behind the stairs, Matthew took a picture inside DOG104 before sat down.

Inside Crosville DOG 104

The bus set off out of the site and onto the A5035 we went through Blurton and into Trentham before crossing the A34 and entering Trentham Gardens. We turned left inside the site passing Frankie & Benny and then we went around the car parks and we stopped outside the Trentham retail village.We got off and took a quick picture.

Crosville DOG 104 at Trentham Gardens

We got back on and at 16:00 at it's booked departure time we set off back to the Gladstone Pottery Museum. We crossed the A34 and onto the A5035. There was a small queue at the temporary lights for the roadworks, and once we passed through them we went through Blurton and Dresden an into Longton. When we got back to the site mum was waiting in thr car park opposite. We had one quick look around and we saw Bassetts Coaches SUX 476X parked in a favourable position for a photograph.

Bassetts Coaches SUX 476X in the Gladstone Pottery Museum

We visited the Mersey Transport Trust Stall in front of MTL 1070 and Matthew studied the bus driver ties that were for sale and brought a single photograph for 30p. We walked across to the car and jumped in. Mum drove us down the Strand and passed the bus station which was empty, so we continued down to King Street and to the A50 link Road. We went through Heron Cross and we dropped uncle Dave of at home before returning home via Heron Cross, getting back around 17:00. For tea Matthew had fish fingers and fries and the millionaire shortbread we brought earlier at Go Eat. Matthew then chilled out on his computer and watched his bus DVD before going to bed around 23:30...Mark

Trip to the POPS rally 18-05-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
30033	Britannia Stadium	Stone	Special	First PMT
356	Stone	Britannia Stadium	Special	Trent
952	Britannia Stadium	Hanley Museum	Special	United Counties
279	Hanley Museum	Britannia Stadium	Special	PMT
6225	Britannia Stadium	Stone	Special	WM
6225	Stone	Britannia Stadium	Special	WM
MMM120	Britannia Stadium	Newcastle BS	Special	First PMT
MMM120	Newcastle BS	Britannia Stadium	Special	First PMT

Today was the highlight of Matthew's social calender! We checked the weather forecast the day before and was for sunny intervals. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had some crumpets and orange juice for breakfast. We set off to pick up uncle Dave around 11:00. We had planned on getting some food from the sandwich shop on Blurton Road but, it was closed despite what the sign said in the window about being open Sundays. After picking up Uncle Dave we drove through Heron Cross and onto the A50 and turned onto Stanley Matthew Way. We were directed onto the car park in front of the West Stand and we parked up. As we walked up to the area where the buses were parked we saw PMT 604 about to depart on a trip out.

PMT 604 at the Britannia Stadium

The first thing we did was to go shopping! Matthew went to Dave Spencer and spent nearly £100. He didn't take long to chose the DVD's that he wanted. I suspect that he had already researched exactly what he wanted online during the past year! Whilst mum carried on chatting to Dave and Mandy, uncle Dave and I took Matthew around the buses to take few photos. As we went down the first row Matthew got a picture of Chester City Transport 99.

Chester City Transport 99 at the Britannia Stadium

Further down the row was one of the newer vehicles in the newly formed Stantons of Stoke fleet, Mercedes minibus KN61 EYG.

Stantons of Stoke KN61 EYG at the Britannia Stadium

Further still down the row was former Brighton & Hove Optare bodied Dennis Lance N408 MPN.

Stanways N408 MPN at the Britannia Stadium

We also got a look at a fully decaled First Potteries branded bus for the revamped Keele to Hanley service.

First Potteries 66307 at the Britannia Stadium

After we had finished looking at the first row of buses we moved to the area behind the Boothen End. Stanways had brought along their rare Wadham Stringer bodied Dennis Dart N983 BHE.

Stanways N983 BHE at the Britannia Stadium

Looking very similar to a Bassetts coach was Jackson's AEC coach TEC 599N.

Jackson's TEC 599N at the Britannia Stadium

This year there was a second Turners liveried vehicle. We did not notice at first... This newest vehicle on the scene was Turners 8.

Turners 8 at the Britannia Stadium

We then walked down to the back row of vehicles. These were new vehicles and recently preserved buses. On the end of the row was a rather nice Leyland Lynx formerly with Halton Transport, 35.

Halton Transport 35 at the Britannia Stadium

After we had done a quick lap of the site we bought a program and a North Staffs fleetbook and sat down in front of the West stand to plan our next move. As we though about what we would do we saw recently preserved First Potteries Leyland double decker 30033 move up to the stop. We decided to get a run on this. We got on the bus and sat down upstairs. A minute or so later required Trent 356 pulled up behind us. It was OK as this was the second bus going to Stone and we could get it on the way back. The bus left the Britannia Stadium and we headed South down Stanley Matthews Way. We then turned right onto the A5035 which we did to Trentham. At Trentham we turned left onto the A34. Once on the A34 put in a great turn of speed as we went past Tittensor and onto the 60mph section of road. We carried on along the Fillybrooks and we came into Stone from the South end. Once we crossed the canal we turned onto the one way system and stopped on Crown Street. Matthew went to use the toilet and once he had been he came out and got a picture of First Potteries 30033.

First Potteries 30033 in Stone

A couple of minutes later the slower and older Trent 356 made an appearance. Matthew then got a picture of this dual door Bristol RE.

Trent 356 in Stone

Whilst we had taken this trip down to Stone mum had bumped into Grandma and they had checked out the price of the food at the Britannia Stadium and decided we would get better value eating elsewhere. Unfortunately Grandma had to leave before we got back. The bus left Stone up Newcastle Street and we rejoined the A34 North of Stone. We then had a spirited run up to the A34 but nowhere near as quick as First Potteries which was at least a 1/2 a mile in front of us. We came back into the Britannia Stadium via the A5035 and Stanley Matthews Way and when the bus had finished emptying out Matthew got a picture inside Trent 356.

Inside Trent 356

We met up with mum and we drove off site to go eat at our favourite cafe Go Eat! Situated on the A5035 just outside Longton we went via Stanley Matthews Way and the A5035 and we got there in no time. After visiting their toilet Matthew sat down to a breakfast with oatcakes and toast and a drink of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye and we decided to return to the bus rally via Longton and the site Z Carz. At the site today there were three more buses than last night. The first bus we saw was GL04 CVE.

Z Carz GL04 CVE in Longton

Beside this was Mercedes minibus BV51 BNO.

Z Carz BV51 BNO in Longton

Next to this was Volkswagon OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Finally was the newest arrival, Ford minibus FP06 WTW.

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

We headed back onto the A50 and we drove down to Stanley Matthews Way and into the Britannia Stadium. We knew the 13:50 departure to Hanley Museum was booked to be required United Counties 952. As we turned the corner we saw the bus at the stop. Mum dropped us off and we got a picture of this fine Bristol VR as we waled up to the stop.

United Counties 952 at the Britannia Stadium

We jumped on the bus and we went upstairs. It was quite well filled and Matthew wasn't able to get a picture inside. The bus set off out of the Britannia Stadium and onto the Westbound A50. We took the A500 to Stoke before joining the A52 to head towards the railway station. After a quick stop we turned up college road and then into Hanley past the bus station. We crossed over the ring road and past the bottom of the new bus station before stopping outside the museum. We got off and took a picture of the bus before getting back on it.

United Counties 952 outside Hanley museum

A duplicate service should have been running with required PMT Leyland National 279. Whilst we waited for 952 to depart we saw Aimee's ex Cardiff Dart T147 DAX on the #16 to Leek.As we hadn't seen it we assumed it hadn't run when we saw PMT in the distance coming down Bethesda Street. We jumped off United Counties 952 and we got a picture of required PMT 279. We jumped on and sat down just in front of the glass screen by the rear raised section of the bus. I forgot about the glass screen in these buses were you used to be able to smoke! The bus set off and turned into Broad Street before turning into college Road. We had a quick stop at the railways station before carrying along the A52 to city Road. We then followed part of the old #46 route that the national used to be quite common on back in the day. We went up City Road and we turned right into the buses only section of Christchurch Street. We then turned into station Road before going across Heron Cross. We turned right onto the A50 and we turned into Stanley Matthews Way and then into the Britannia Stadium. We went passed the west Stand and we turned behind the Boothen End to the point where the buses were setting down. We then got another picture of PMT 279.

PMT 279 at the Britannia Stadium

We had a short break off the buses and we sat down by the Boothen End. I had planned on doing Coventry 244 but I had misread the timetable which is easy to do with the look up charts and flicking backwards and forwards in the book. The bus turned out to be West Midlands double decker 6225 which we decided to do instead.

WM 6225 at the Britannia Stadium

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. The bus set off onto Stanley Matthews Way and we turned right at the end onto the A5035. We turned onto the Southbound A34 and we headed South of Stone as we had done on First Potteries 30033. We turned back into town and stopped on Crown Street. First PMT minibus MMM120 had already beaten us to the stop. We got off and took a picture of the minibus.

PMT MMM120 in Stone

Matthew used the toilet and we decided to go back on the double decker rather than to transfer onto the minibus. We sat back the top deck of WM 6225 and the bus set off North. This time the bus went back up the A520 through Outon. At rough Close we turned onto Lightwood Road and we headed towards Longton. We turned onto Belgrave Road and then onto the A5035. We then went along to Stanley Matthews Way and then back into the Britannia Stadium. When we got back to the stadium we waited for the bus to empty out and Matthew got a picture inside of WM 6225.

Inside WM 6225

We were going to do Lynx 860 but we had a bit of time to kill so we had a walk around whilst we waited. We came across the former British Airways triple door Leyland National with Matthew like the look of.

British Airways B361 LOY at the Britannia Stadium

There was somebody with the bus so we asked if we could go on it and have a look around. Matthew then took a picture inside B361 LOY.

Inside British Airways B361 LOY

We also had a look on the new liveried First Potteries Volvo 66307.

Inside First Potteries 66307

The bus we hoped to catch later former PMT Lynx 860, was parked up between duties.

PMT 860 at the Britannia Stadium

It looked like Stanways Dart N983 BHE wasn't going to work today afterall. The was no-one with the bus so Matthew had to settle for taking a picture through the front window.

Inside Stanways N983 BHE

The Brisol RE that we rode on earlier, Trent 356 was parked up in a nice sunny location.

Trent 356 at the Britannia Stadium

We walked over to the newer buses and Matthew got a picture of one of D&G's latest acquisition, Enviro 200 109.

D&G 109 at the Britannia Stadium

The bus was open and unattended so Matthew went on and took a picture inside this bus.

Inside D&G 109

At this point we were epecting PMT 860 to work but we didn't see it. Matthew decided to look at the stalls again and by a few photographs. There were only a few departures left now, and only one full round trip as far as we could see. This was going to be dud First PMT MMM120. We decided to do this bus anyway because we hadn't been on it for a long time. The bus pulled up at the stop and we got a picture of the Mercedes minibus.

PMT MMM120 at the Britannia Stadium

The last time we had this bus was back in August 2010. We got on the bus and we sat down near the back. The bus was doing a round trip to Newcastle. he bus set off onto Stanley Matthew Way and we joined the Westbound A50 and then the Northbound A500. We came off the A500 at Shelton New Road and we headed up to the border of Newcastle. We dropped down into Newcastle along George Street and into Newcastle bus station. We asked the driver if there was time to take a quick picture and after he said yes we jumped off and got a nice shot of MMM120 in the sunshine.

PMT MMM120 in Newcastle bus station

We got back on and the bus set off out of town. We did the A53 through Basford and onto the A500. We then went back up the A500 until we met the A50 and back into Stanley Matthew Way and the Britannia Stadium. We waited for the bus to empty and Matthew got another picture inside First PMT MMM120.

Inside PMT MMM120

Mum was waiting for us and we decided to get a few more pictures as we walked back to the car. Former Big Green Bus E989 VUK was now in clear view.

E989 VUK at the Britannia Stadium

As we walked back Chester City Transport 99 set of back to it's home.

Chester City Transport 99 at the Britannia Stadium

Outside the West stand Midland Red 674 set off on it's journey home.

Midland Red 674 at the Britannia Stadium

We jumped into the car and we went to drop Uncle Dave off at home. We then came back through Heron cross into Blurton getting home just after after 17:00. For tea Matthew had chicken popcorn and fries. He then chilled out watching his new DVD's and using his computer and having a bath until bedtime around 23:00...Mark