Trip to the Black Lion 15-02-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
MIB 797	Heron Cross	Longton Hall Road	40	Copelands Tours
66838	Longton Hall Road	Trent Vale, adj Woodlands Rd	22	First Potteries
40377	Trent Vale, opp Black Lion	Hanford opp Man in Space	21	First Potteries
40146	Hanford opp Man in Space	Blurton Road, Blurtn	22	First Potteries
40171	Blurton Road, Blurton	Heron Cross	23	First Potteries

Today was Matthew's first trip out on a bus whilst staying at his new respite place. I organised a PA to go to meet Matthew and a member of staff from the place, and created a 4 page document on what buses to catch and where to catch them. The first bus that I organised for Matthew to catch was a Copelands Tours Dennis Dart on the #40 service. This can be one of two Ex PMT step entrance buses with MIB 783 being the most common and MIB 797 putting in a few less appearances. He has been on both of these buses before but not for a year or two so I thought it would be nice for him to travel on one of these buses again whilst he still can. Whilst waiting he saw First PMT 40139. Today it was the turn of MIB 797 to work the service and Matthew got a picture of this before he boarded it.

Copeland Tours MIB 797 in Heron Cross

The next bus I planned for him to get was the #22A turn which unusually brings a long bus onto the run or even sometimes a double decker like 31519. The bus misses out going through the hospital so it can be any length of vehicle. Due to the work being carried out on the hospital sight nothing longer than regular dart can work a #22. More often a Scania, Whilst waiting for the bus Matthew saw Dennis Dart 40144 going towards Longton. today it was a Volvo. It was dud 66838 and Matthew got a picture of it before he boarded.

First PMT 66838 in Longton Hall Road

Matthew got off in Trent Vale and then went to The Black Lion for his dinner. He had his usual from the 2 courses for £6.50 menu which was washed down with a glass of Coke. On the return I had planned for Matthew to stagger his journey and to get in some different buses. I had planned for Matthew to get a AG Scania or Dart to Trentham, for a NE 40153 Dart or 40017 Solo to Blurton, for a AG Dart into Heron cross. After his dinner he walked across the road to wait for the #21 or #21A, whichever came first. It was a #21 which I had planned but it didn't produce a Scania which I had hoped for. Matthew has had the majority of AG's alloaction of Darts but very few of their Scana's. It was however a required bus, Dennis Dart 40377. Matthew got a picture before he boarded.

First PMT 40377 in London Road

After this short journey he got a picture as he got off, With the blind now set ready for the last bit of the loop and it's return journey North.

40377 opposite the Man in Space

At this point he had around a 20 minute wait. He saw UVG Dart 40745 heading North presumably on a #21A.

First PMT 40745 on a Hanley bound #21

He also saw the following #21 which I had not out down for him to catch as the timing was too close with only two minutes before the #22 was due. It was required Scania 60062.

First PMT 60062 on the follow #21 Trentham

A couple of minutes Later the #22 turn up, It was an ALX200 Dart which Matthew quite likes and it was also required. Matthew got a picture of 40146 before he boarded.

First PMT 40146 on the #22 Longton

Matthew now only needs 1 bus to complete the whole allocation of, As he got off in Longton Hall Road, he got another picture of this bus. He also saw Dennis Dart 40143 Heading towards Newcastle on a #22 First PMT ALX200 Dennis Dart.

40146 on Longton Hall Road

Having got of the Longton bus, they crossed over Blurton road to wait for the bus back to Heron Cross. It turned up a few minutes later and it was dud Marshall Dart 40171, which he a picture of before he boarded.

First PMT 40171 on Blurton Road

Back a t Heron Cross he walkedback to the new respite place. As he got back he saw Wardle Transport minibus 1626 and he got a picture of this bus too.

Wardle Transport 1626 in Heron Cross

He also saw Wardle Transport 2531. The respite place report that Matthew was superb whilst he was out and that he really enjoyed himself...Mark

Trip to Stoke 14-07-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
T131 SGA	Blurton	Abbey Hulton	Charter	Z carz
T131 SGA	Abbey Hulton	Blurton	Charter	Z carz
40171	Waterside Drive, Shepley Grove	Stoke railway station	23	First Potteries
66838	Stoke railway station	Cauldon College (adj)	25	First Potteries
2406	Cauldon College (opp)	Stanley Matthews Way, Hem Heath	500	Wardle Transport

Today Matthew unusual had T131 SGA to college and back. Matthew was really pleased with this bus turning up on his transport!

Matthew went to Hanley earlier to open a new account, and he was really well behaved so I decided to treat him to a quick trip later. I went out just before 20:00 to see what was on the 23A diagram. It was required 40171... Just after 20:30, we went out and walked the short distance to Newstead to catch the 23 to Stoke station. The bus was due at around 20:52, but it did not turn up until around 21:00. We did the bus to the station as per usual and Matthew took a shot as it disappeared into the distance...


40171 heads towards to Hanley on a #23 service (Matt)

Due to our slight lateness we were unable to do the #25 into Stoke. So I hatched a plan to do the #25 towards Hanley as far as the College in order to pick up the #500 there. We had about 5 minutes to wait and before long required 66838 appeared. As we got on the bus Matthew decided to say hello to a lady on the bus. As he went to wave at her, the man sitting in the seat in front visibly flinched as he thought Matthew was going to punch him. When he realised what was happening he did smile as I apologised for Matthew scaring him! We sat down as we did the bus about 1/2 a mile up the road. Matthew got a shot as it accelerated away...


66838 also Hanley bound outside Cauldon College (Matt)

I did a 84268 text to see when the bus was due. We had about 4 minutes for the 500. When a Dart came over the hill I was surprised. Having seen Solos and Versas on this service, it was nice to see another new type. Originally i though it was M113, but as it got closer we saw it was 2406, which we had been on from Middleport to Hanley back in 2009. Matthew got a shot as it approached.


Wardle Transport 2406 on College Road (Matt)

The bus was lightly loaded and the journey was quiet. After we had dropped the other passengers of at Sainsbury's and we were crossing the A500, a Z carz minibus appeared behind us. The driver must have recognised Matthew as he gave him a thumbs up as he tried to take a picture out of the rear window. We got off near the end of Stanley Matthews way and then waited for the bus to return to the starting point of the return journey where Matthew got a picture.


2406 at Journeys end (Matt)

As we crossed the road to walk home, we saw the bus in the sunset and took another picture. He used the upright of the crossing to steady his camera.


2406 about to work off into the sunset... (Matt)

We then went back home for a bottle of Aldi shandy before bedtime.... Mark