Trip to Trent Vale 25-10-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
43877	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trent Vale, opp Chubb Way (Unmarked)	22	First Potteries

Today was a teacher training day at college so Matthew had the day off. He got up around 10:00 this morning and had some toast and orange juice for breakfast. He used his computer and watched his telly for a few hours before having half an omelette or dinner. I viewed the #22 buses and there were 2 required buses out today. First Potteries 43877 was on the #22A turn and was going to be passing through Blurton around 15:15. First Potteries 40019 was going to be working the bus through Blurton around 16:00. The other 2 buses on the #22 were dud First Potteries 40011 and 40304. We decided to go out after required Dart First Potteries 43877. Matthew got dressed just before 15:00 and we walked to the stop. We saw Z Carz S952 VMY on a school run to Chell Heath. The bus was due through this part of Blurton at around 15:17 and bang on time the bus appeared from around the corner and it was required First Potteries 43877 as expected.

First Potteries 43877 in Blurton

We got on and sat near the back. As the bus pulled of we passed Copeland's Tours MIB 236 heading to the Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy. The bus was empty in front of us so I encouraged Matthew to take a picture facing forwards whilst he could.

Inside First Potteries 43877

The bus carried on along the A5035. and the turned into New Inn Lane. we passed First Potteries 40019 on the #22 as it should be and then we passed First Potteries 40175 on a #21 in Hanford. When we reached the A34 it was quite busy and there were a few vehicles were Stoke on Trent welfare bus OU11 YCX was in front of us at the lights, #26/26A branded Scania 65027 was on a #101 to Hanley, and then two coaches went north on the A34. These were Grayway YJ04 BNN and Shearings BK11 CRV. We joined the Northbound A34 ourselves and headed up though Hanford and into Trent Vale. Just before we turned into Harpfield Road we passed First Potteries 65034 in the new livery on a Stafford bound #101. We turned into the road and we got off at the stop. Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 43877.

First Potteries 43877 in Trent Vale

We walked back onto the A34 and towards the Black Lion pub where we were meeting mum today. As we waited we saw Wardle Transport 4812 on a #604 St Peters High School bus service.

Wardle Transport 4812 in Trent Vale

We carried on to the pub and sat on the wall of the car park. We only had to wait for a couple of minutes before mum turned up. We went into the pub and Matthew had his usual 2 sausage egg chips beans with a side of bacon and two rounds of bread. This was washed down with a Coke. For afters he had toffee sponge pudding and ice cream. When we had finished we called uncle Dave on the phone and we went to go fetch him. We went via the A34, A500, A50 and Heron Cross. When we had picked him up it had started to rain quite heavily. We carefully drove back to Heron Cross and into Blurton. As we went along we passed First Potteries 40019 again on a #22 to Longton and also Wardle Transport 2963 on the Plumline. We got home around 17:15. Matthew then chilled out at home for the evening. Using his computer, watching bus DVDs and watching some TV. Matthew then went to bed around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Sherratts Wood 29-10-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJX	Shelton, opp Cemetery Road	Sherratts Wood	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJX	Sherratts Woods	Shelton, adj Cemetery Road	Charter	Aiming High

Today Matthew went to Sherratts Wood with Aiming High. He got up at around 08:45. After having some orange juice and toast we set off to Shelton around 09:30. On the way we passed First PMT 41495 & 41502 on the #23 service. We also passed first PMT 40016 on the #22 service. We Drove to Heron Cross and got on the A50. We then did the A500 up to Shelton New Road. We got to the place about 09:50 and Matthew took a picture of the minibus before going inside to wait for the time to go. It was Aiming High FJ10 BJX.

Aiming High FJ10 BJX in Shelton

we got on a little after 10:00 we set off to Sherratts Wood. As we left we saw First PMT double decker 34285 in Shelton. The route we took was down to the A500 and then South to the A50. we travelled along the A50 to Draycott and then along Cresswell Road for 3 miles. we then took a left to Morrilow Heath and to their destination. When they got there they had a look around the farm. The first animals we saw were Shetland Ponies.

A Shetland Pony at Sherratts Wood

we then walked around to see the other animal. These included Horses, Birds, Goats,a Cat and also Pigs.

A Pig at Sherratts Wood

we stopped for a while to eat their packed lunches before spending some time with the Shetland Ponies.

Another Shetland Pony being led at Sherratts Wood

we got on Around 14:00 we set off back towards Shelton they headed back to Draycott and then onto the A50. When we went passed Longton they diverted up to the high level so that we could see what buses were parked up at Z Carz. Parked up were Mercedes minibus BV51 BNO and the coach V690 EBC. we then carried on along to the end of the A50 before turning onto the Northbound A500. They turned off on Shelton New Road and then back to their base. Matthew used the toilet and then we arrived around 14:50 to pick him up. We went back down to the A500 and onto the A50 to Heron Cross. As we headed through Blurton we saw 40373 and 40009 on #23 service and we saw 40019 on a #22. We got back home a little after 15:00. Matthew had a nap before having beefburgers and potatoes for tea. We then settled down for the evening before bedtime...Mark

Trip on the last Sunday #164 10-07-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40373	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Stoke railway station	23	First Potteries
61143	Signal Radio, Stoke Road	Campbell Place, Stoke	21	First Potteries
66845	Church Street, Stoke	Newcastle bus station	25	First Potteries
2902	Newcastle bus station	Hanley bus station	164	Arriva Midlands
61556	Hanley bus station	Longton transport interchange	6B	First Potteries

As Matthew hadn't been out much this month and today was the last running of the Sunday 164, I decided to take him out today to try and get a ride on this service. The original plan was to catch the 14:00 Newcastle - Longton #22 bus to Longton, catch a 6B to Hanley in order to meet the 164 in Hanley bus station. The bus was due through Blurton at 14:22 so we set off to the bus stop on Trentham Road just before 14:10. After waiting for 25 minutes for this bus, we had to assume that this bus had broken down or the driver was unable to complete this turn. So we followed the route through Blurton to the Ladybank Grove stop. the next #23 bus was due at 14:54 so we waited here for the Hanley bus. As we waited it started to rain so the coats cam out of the bag. The #23 turned up at around 15:00 with dud 40373 for power.


40373 in Blurton on the #23 to Hanley (Matt)

At this point the #22 still hadn't come past in either direction so I can only assume that this leg of the diagram did not run. The reason the #23 was running late is because there was a young girl trying to dodge paying her fare. As her mother got off the bus the young girl miraculously found her ticket, which must have been a 'week student' ticket. When asked to produce a student cards she couldn't. The mum came back on to the bus to see if there was a problem and the driver ascertained that the ticket belonged to her. The younger girl was asked to pay the fare of get off the bus! As a result of this action the bus was 10 minutes late when it left Ladybank Grove. Our plan B was to got to Stoke station (15:12) and to pick up the 164 outside Signal Radio (15:20). As we got off the bus matthew took a quick picture.


40373 outside Stoke railway station (Matt)

We jogged the 400 or so yards to the Signal Radio stop on Stoke Road. As the bus had been made late by the fare dodger we weren't able to make this bus. We saw 40022 on a 21A and we let this go, hoping that the #164 still might turn up. it soon came apparent that we had definitely missed the bus so I used the '84268' system to find the next bus time. There was a #21 at 15:46. I thought that this might make the #22 in Trent Vale, which we could catch up to Newcastle (we'll call this plan 'C'...). The bus turned up and it was ex Chester 61143 which was required.


61143 outside Signal Radio (Matt)

When the bus stopped at the lights over the A500 it vibrated quite a bit! As this bus was also a couple of minutes late, and it was also a bit shaky, I decide to get off in stoke to head towards Newcastle from there. With service #25, #26 and #41, there bound to be something to get us up to Newcaslte for 16:50. When we got off I consulted to bus stop timetables. there was a #25 at 16:22 which should get us to Newcastle with plenty of time to meet the 164 (Plan 'D'). Whilst we waited we were able to take some pictures.


60063 on a Hanley bound #26 (Matt)


D&G 91 on a #41 to Hanley (Matt)

After around 20 minutes and a few buses later, required 66845 turned up on the #25...


First Potteries 66845 on a #25 to Keele (Matt)

When we got to Newcastle we saw Scraggs 80 on the 16:30 to Longtom. It would seem that plan 'D' actually worked and we would finally catch up with the #164. Matthew then got another picture of 66845.


66845 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

We also saw 40019 on the #72 Clayton and then D&G 41 on the #85 Crewe service...


D&G 41 on #85 Crewe (Matt)

Another bus we saw whilst waiting was D&G 106 on the 94A to Audley.


D&G 106 on a #94A to Audley (Matt)

Shortly after that we eventually saw what we had been waiting for. Arriva Midlands 2902 on the last Northbound Sunday #164 service.


Last Northbound #164; 2902 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

As we got on Matthew tried to do something that he shouldn't and nearly got us in to trouble. Luckily the driver ignored his bad behaviour. When we got to Hanley he tried to do the same thing again! needless to say he won't be going on a Arriva Midlands bus in Hanley on a Sunday again (unless the timetable changes...). When we got off we were able to take another picture of this beast.


Last Southbound #164; 2902 in Hanley bus station (Matt)

At this point i gave Matthew a choice of a few buses he could catch. he could have done a 21A to Trentham, a #25 to stoke or a 6B to Longton. Matthew choice to do 61556 on the 6B. We left the balcony and waited for the driver to return to this bus.


61556 on a #6B to Blythe Bridge (Matt)

At Longton we were able to get a few more pictures before mum picked us up. 60011 was on a #26...


60011 on a #26 (Matt)

We got another picture of ex Chester 61556...


61556 continues to Blythe Bridge (Matt)

Another ex Chester bus also turned up which Matthew got a picture of...


61554 in Longton transport interchange (Matt)

Also old-school Scania 60073 starting to look it's age...


60073 in Longton transport interchange (Matt)

Shortly after this mum turned up to rescue us. We went home and had Pizza for tea... Mark