Trip to Stoke / Tunstall 12-07-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
60173	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	22	First Potteries
65564	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop R	21	First Potteries
32054	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	25	First Potteries
3614	Newcastle BS	Tunstall, adj stop M	91	Wardle Transport
65572	Tunstall, adj stop B	Burslem, Swan Bank (Stop D)	29A	First Potteries
61246	Burslem, Wedgwood Street (Stop A)	Bradeley, opp Moorland View	29	First Potteries
65562	Bradeley, abj Moorland View	Tunstall, adj stop B	29A	First Potteries
3613	Tunstall, adj stop B	Newcastle BS	91	Wardle Transport

Today we decided to go out on a local trip. Mum had been ill for a few days and was still recovering, and wasn't up to a big trip. She had been so ill that she hadn't got to the pub on Friday for tea. No research was done other than to check the weather, which was for sunny weather up until teatime with rain moving in later. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. I went out and checked what buses were working on the #22. All of the buses were dud so we decided to catch the 11:50 Longton - Newcastle. We left the house just before 12:00 and we walked to the stop on Magdalen Road. We decided to do our usual move of going to Stoke via Hanford for dinner. On the Plumline today was D&G 170.The was followed by First Potteries 65729 on the #22 towards Longton. A couple of minutes later our bus appeared from around the corner and as predicted it was the dud First Potteries 60173.

First Potteries 60173 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked Smart day tickets at £5.30. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off onto the A5035. The bus was reasonably well filled today. The last time we had this bus it was Allocated to AG. We had a trip on it from Tunstall to Hanley in the snow back in January 2013. We carried on along the A5035 and some people sitting opposite got off the bus. Matthew used to opportunity to take a picture of the empty seats opposite us.

Inside First Potteries 60173

The bus turned onto New Inn Lane. It was hot on this bus as there was only one open window. I asked Matthew if he wanted to get of the bus by the Man in Space or by the A34, and he chose the Man in Space. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 60173 before it carried on to Newcastle.

First Potteries 60173 in Trentham

It felt quite nice to be out of the hot bus. The next bus was due in less than 10 minutes. We didn't see it go up, so when it appeared from out of Pacific Drive we can only assume it must have been going around the estate really slowly. The dot matrix display looked odd so I thought it may have been one of the 5 ex Northampton buses currently in service at AG. As it got closer we saw that it was. It was dud First Potteries 65564.

First Potteries 65564 in Trentham

We got on the bus and flashed our tickets and Matthew got a picture inside First Potteries 65564.

Inside First Potteries 65564

We sat down and the bus continued along New Inn Lane into Hanford. His bus was much cooler than the last on, with most of the windows open. The last time we had this bus was back in May from Burslem to Bradeley on the #29. The bus turned into Wilson Drive and we went down Church Lane onto the A34. We passed required First Potteries 42727 on the #21A and we crossed the A500 and went into Trent Vale. We turned into London Road and carried on into Stoke, where we got off. Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 65564.

First Potteries 65564 in Stoke

We crossed Campbell Place and we saw dud life limited First Potteries 61553 on a #21 to Trentham.

First Potteries 61553 in Stoke

We carried on around the corner into Church Street and into the cafe. Matthew disappeared down to the toilet an I ordered the food. Whilst Matthew was gone I saw required First Potteries 32057 on a #25 to Hanley and Wardle Transport 2342 on a Newcastle bound #41. Matthew returned from the toilet to eat his breakfast washed down with a glass of Coke. Whilst we ate we saw First Potteries 32056 on another #25, and D&G 106 on the Trentham Plumline service. We came out and walked down Church Street to catch a bus. We saw First Potteries required 40015 on a #24A to Newcastle and required 40173 on a #23A to Hanley. We let these both go to check out the next direct service to Newcastle. We could see a Scania on a #26 being followed by a Wardle Transport MPD Dart. The Scania was required First Potteries 60058 on a #26 and the Wardle Transport buses was dud 2221, which we have had a couple of times before. We have been on 2221 in Uttoxeter when it was allocated to Burton-on-Trent and Cannock and it seems to have followed us back to Stoke! We turned both of these down, to see what was on the next #25 to Keele. We could see it in the distance and it was another ALX400 double decker. With 2 buses out the way, there was a 66% chance that it was going to be a required on. As it got closer we saw it was dud First Potteries 32054.

First Potteries 32054 in Stoke

We got on it anyway, as we wanted to get to Newcastle. We went upstairs it was nearly empty, so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 32054.

Inside First Potteries 32054

We sat down and the bus waited for a minute or so before it carried on to Newcastle. We had been on this bus before last time we did a local trip out back in May. The bus left Stoke and we climbed up the hill to Hartshill and carried on towards Newcastle. Just before we got to George Street we passed another ALX400 double decker, required 32055. When we got to Newcastle we saw First Potteries 37156 & 37158 on the #25. Matthew wanted to go to Tunstall for a cake so we were looking at buses going in that direction. We saw required First Potteries 42893 seemingly on a #99A which we could do towards Tunstall, but it had no driver at this point.

First Potteries 42893 in Newcastle bus station

We walked down to the bottom of the bus station so that we could watch buses coming in whilst we waited for First Potteries 42893 to be readied for service. We also saw dud Bakerbus 248 on a #94 to Biddulph. We saw the bus was loading so we walked back up to the stand. It was now on a #98 to Ball Green. Not to worry we could do this to Burslem for something forward to Tunstall. Just as we were about to get on First Potteries 42893, required Wardle Transport 3614 pulled alongside us on the #91.

Wardle Transport 3614 in Newcastle bus station

Matthew decided we were going to do this bus instead. There was a quick driver change, Matthew seemed to know both drivers... The one getting off and the one getting on. We flashed our bus tickets and we sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus set off out of Newcastle and towards Wolstanton. We got to the top of Porthill Bank and we turned right down to Longport. We crossed over the A500 and we headed through Trubshaw Cross into Tunstall. When we got to the High Street the bus was emptying out as we were getting off so Matthew took a picture inside Wardle Transport 3614

Inside Wardle Transport 3614

We got off the bus and we headed into the Tunstall cafe. Matthew went to the toilet with uncle Dave and I ordered Matthew a slice of toffee cheescake and a can of Coke. After we had finished in the cafe we headed out back onto the High Street to see what we could catch. Almost immediately we saw required First Potteries 65572 on a #29A to Hanley.

First Potteries 65572 in Tunstall

We got on the bus and flashed the tickets once again. We sat down near the back and Matthew took a picture of the empty seats behind us.

Inside First Potteries 65572

The bus set off town the High Street. This was another of the ex Northampton buses in use at Adderley Green. It had been in an accident and had recently been repaired. This bus had only been back on the road just over a week or so. Outside Adsa we saw another required ex Northampton Scania 65562. If we got off at Burslem and headed back to Bradley we would probably catch up with this bus like we did similarly back in May. We carried on down Scotia Road and into Burslem town centre. We got off the bus and we got another picture of First Potteries 65572. We crossed over the road to wait for the next #29 to Bradeley. Whilst we waited we saw required and recently repainted First Potteries 65733 on a Hanley bound #20.

First Potteries 65733 in Burslem

In the distance we could see another Scania approaching down Waterloo Road. As it got closer we could see it was dud First Potteries 61246.

First Potteries 61246 in Burslem

We flashed the tickets and we sat down near the back of the bus. The bus set off back up Scotia Road. Outside Dimensions there was some kind of event. There was a bouncy castle and one of the POPS Bristol VR's amongst other things. We hadn't noticed this on the way up to Burslem! The bus passed through Tunstall and we headed down Quenns Road and into the Mill Hill estate. We passed the latest Northampton Scania, required First Potteries 65567 which had only been running locally for around a week. We turned right onto High Lane and we headed down the hill into Fegg Hayes. We turned back through Chell Heath, passing Matthew's old school Heathfield which now looks overgrown. We carried on down the hill to Bradeley. The bus had emptied out and as we got up to get off Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 61246.

Inside First Potteries 61246

We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 61246 before it carried on to Hanley.

First Potteries 61246 in Bradeley

We crossed the road and we let dud First Potteries 60062 go. We checked the timetable and we had at least 10 minutes before the bus was due. We sat on a bench on the corner and Matthew had an angel slice and a can of Barr Bubblegumade. Dud Wardle transport 2131 made an appearance and the driver set the display the return journey on the #19 service. alternating between saying '19 City Centre' the LED display also said 'Up Hanley Duck'...

Wardle Transport 2131 in Bradeley

The bus carried onto Bradeley village and walked over to the stop ready for our bus. A few minutes later it arrived and as predicted it was required First Potteries 65562.

First Potteries 65562 in Bradeley

We got on the bus and we sat down near the back. We headed back through Chell Heath back passed his old school and the bus emptied out a little as we went though Fegg Hayes. At the end of the road we passed required Wardle Transport 3613 on a Bradley bound #91 service. We turned left towards Turnhurst and on the way up we noticed the bus was empty in front of us, and Matthew took a picture inside first Potteries 65562.

Inside First Potteries 65562

We turned left onto High Lane before going right into the Mill Hill estate. Once through the estate we turned right and we climbed up the hill into Tunstall. We got off the bus and Matthew got another picture of 65562.

First Potteries 65562 in Tunstall

We decided to have a little bit of a break from catching buses before we did what was probably going to be the last journey of the day. We decided to have a toilet stop, and on the way there we stopped to take a couple of bus pictures. Firstly we saw dud Wardle Transport 2255 on the #90 to Ball Green.

Wardle Transport 2255 in Tunstall

The we saw required Bakerbus 268 which was on a #94 to Biddulph.

Bakerbus 268 in Tunstall

After visiting the toilet, we decided to take Matthew to a papershop to get some supplies for the trip bag. We walked around the back of the market onto the Boulevard, but there weren't any shops there. We decided to go to the top of the High Street to find a shop. We crossed the High Street by Betty Boo's diner and then crossed Roundwell street. We walked passed the burnt out shell of Mr Big Deals and as we got closer to the papershop we could see a police car. Luckily the police weren't attending the papershop. They were giving somebody a talking too on spare ground two door down from the papershop. In the shop Matthew had a small bottle of Irn Bru for now and a can of coke for later. He also had a couple of chocolate bars. We paid for the stuff and we headed back towards the seats on the end of the Boulevard to have a sit down. On the way we stopped and saw recently repainted First Potteries 66841 on a #99 to Biddulph.

First Potteries 66841 in Tunstall

We carried on down the High Street and we sat down on seats at the enof the boulevard whilst Matthew drank his Irn Bru. After we had finished we headed back to the stop on the high Street. We knew required Wardle Transport 3613 was due any time now,and a couple of minutes later it appeared from around the corner.

Wardle Transport 3613 in Tunstall

We got on the bus and the driver said hello to Matthew. The lady driver said 'I bet he must have hundreds of bus picture by now... No, thousands!'. She remembered picking Matthew up for school 12 years ago when he first starting taking bus pictures and she drove for another bus company. Matthew took a picture inside the empty Wardle Transport 3613.

Inside Wardle Transport 3613

We sat down near to the back and the bus set off down the High Street. I called mum to arrange a pick up in Newcastle. We carried on down Newcastle Road to Trubshaw Cross and through Longport and across the A500. We passed dud Wardle transport 3615 which was the 3rd bus on the #91 service. We climbed up Porthill Bank and turn left into Wolstanton. We then went into Newcastle passed The Bramptons and around the Jubilee roundabout. When we got to Newcastle we were going to go to the toilet and then meet up with mum. As we got to the disabled toilet, someone had got there just in front of us. Whilst we waited Matthew took a few bus pictures... First we saw required First Potteries 66304.

First Potteries 66304 in Newcastle bus station

We then saw another required bus. Former Arriva North West & Wales 2129, now numbered 2361 in the Wardle Transport fleet.

Wardle Transport 2361 in Newcastle bus station

On the #85 to Crewe we saw required D&G Solo 142.

D&G 142 in Newcastle bus station

We also saw dud First Potteries 65727 on the #34 to Wereton.

First Potteries 65727 in Newcastle bus station

We also saw dud D&G Solo 138 On the #94.

D&G 138 in Newcastle bus station

We also saw required First Potteries ALX400 double decker 32055 again on the #25 to Keele.

First Potteries 32055 in Newcastle bus station

The only step entranced bus we saw n service today was Scraggs Blue Buses 56 on the #31 to Werrington.

Scraggs Blue Buses 56 in Newcastle

The toilet became vacant after around a 20 minute wait and once Matthew had been we walked onto barracks Road before walking through the gardens to the Ironmarket to meet mum. Mum had picked up some wrights pie sausage rolls on the way to meeting us which Matthew ate and washed down with Irn Bru. We set off onto barracks Road back past the bus station and we drove down the A34 to Trent Vale. We passed First Potteries 32633 on the #101 as we crossed the A500. We carried on down the A34 to trentham. We saw Intercity minibus ND58 EDJ going towards the M6. We turned onto the A5035 which we did to Longton so we could check out what was on the spare ground a Z Carz. Today there were 3 buses on the spare ground. Firstly we saw LDV minibus DS51 ZJU.

Z Carz DS51 ZJU in Longton

Then we saw Scania Coach D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

Finally we saw Airport Transfer minibus DL03 HHU.

Z Carz DL03 HHU in Longton

We turned into Willow Row where we saw long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX. We turned back onto the A50 and we headed up to Heron Cross. We went back through Blurton and we passed First Potteries 60015 on a #22 to Longton and First Potteries 40026 & 40173 on #23's. We got back home at around 17:30. For tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a cake bar. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30... 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