Trip to Newcastle 15-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40029	Wolstanton, opp Marsh Avenue	Hanley BS	17	First Potteries
66851	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	34A	First Potteries
66851	Newcastle BS	Tunstall High Street	20A	First Potteries
40149	Tunstall High Street	Wolstanton, opp Marsh Avenue	99	First Potteries

Matthew was in respite today, and they decided to take him out on the bus. When he first went out he got a couple of picture of buses passing on the Newcastle Tunstall services. 40140 was seen heading towards Newcastle.


40140 in Wolstanton going towards Newcastle (Matt)

Shortly afterwards 40147 was seen heading towards Tunstall.


Tunstall bound 40147 in Wolstanton (Matt)

After this quick flourish of activity, 40029 appeared on the #17 service to Hanley, In Hanley bus station Matthew got a good shot.


40029 in Hanley bus station on a #17 service (Matt)

He then did 66851 on a 34A. He did this past Kidsgrove and towards Tunstall on the 20A service. At Tunstall they alighted and waited for the service towards Newcastle. After a short wait 40149 turned up. He did this to Wolstatnton, getting a photograph of the inside of this bus on the way.


Inside 40149 (Matt)

After this trip out, Matthew returned to his respite unit...Mark

Trip to Newcastle 13-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
R794 WOD	Blurton	Wolstanton	Charter	Lightning Travel
N131 FWR	Wolstanton	Newcastle	Charter	Lightning Travel
N131 FWR	Newcastle	Wolstanton	Charter	Lightning Travel
N361 YRC	Wolstatnton	Festival park	Charter	Lightning Travel
N361 YRC	Festival Park	Wolstanton	Charter	Lightning Travel

Matthew went into respite at dinner time today. he did R794 WOD to Wolstanton to go in today.


Lightning Travel R794 WOD in Blurton to Wolstanton (Matt)

later he did a round trip from Wolstanton to Newcastle on N131 FWR. Afterwards, he did a trip to Festival Park and back on N361 YRC to eat at Frankie and Benny's...Mark

Trip to Stone 12-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
N748 OYR	Longton Transport Interchange	Meir Broasdway	7A	Wardle Transport
40383	Meir Broadway	Longton Transport Interchange	6	First Poteries
2328	Longton Transport Interchange	Stafford Road, Stone	250	Wardle Transport
231	Crown Street, Stone	Barlaston Old Road, Trentham	X1	Bakerbus

today i finished work at 15:30, and mum had a nail appointment in Longton at 16:00 so we decided I would take Matthew out for an hour or two whilst mum was occupied. setting off around 15:45 I dropped mum off in town and then parked up next to Longton Transport Interchange in Tesco car park. the plan had been to Either do the Copelands #40 service or wait until !6:40 and do the #250 to Stone. In the meantime Matthew took a few pictures. First bus he saw was ex an D&G Dart which is now 2244 in the Wardle fleet.


Wardle Transport 2244 on a #50 service (Matt)

Matthew also indicated he wanted to do 40164 to Meir but then changed his mind and took a picture instead.


40164 heading towards Meir on a #6 (Matt)

When MIB 797 appeared on the #40 service it looked like we were going to do this. He got on but he only wanted a new coach trip leaflet! I thought we were going to be waiting for the #250 and then Ex D&G Dart N748 OYR appeared and he wanted to do this. We did not see a fleet number on this bus, hopefully it's just an oversight and does not mean imminent withdrawal. We did this this to Meir where we got off and Matthew got a good picture.


Wardle Transport N748 OYR with no fleet number on the #7A Cheadle service (Matt)

we crossed the busy slip road to catch a bus back and we saw the #250 stone - Longton. We did not get across in time but i knew if we followed it to Longton we would be able to do it back out to Stone


Wardle Transport 2328 in Meir (Matt)

hot on 2328's heal was First PMT 40383. not required but a good way to get back to Longton. as we were rushed Matthew didn't get a picture. We followed 2328 all the way back to Longton and we had a about 5 minutes before 2328 was due to depart. We got on and Mathhew got a picture of the inside


Inside 2328 (Matt)

then followed a speedy trip to Stone going to Meir, then south on the A520 to Meir. we pasted the Kibblestone scout camp and went through Oulton before appearing in the Northern end of Stone. We got off in Stafford street and then walked to crown Street.


2328 heads away from Stone (Matt)

We then had around 15 minutes to wait for the X1. 2328 reappeared on the #250 Longton and First PMT 65034 appeared at the same time as Bakerbus 231 on the X1


Bakerbus 231 in crown Street Stone (Matt)

We did 231 as 65034 is not required and the X1 is faster and it's the bus that we planned on doing. it only took around 15 minutes to get back to Trentham, as such we had to wait outside Natwest Bank for a while before mum turned up.


Bakerbus 231 in Trentham (Matt)

When mum turned up we went to the gables for tea. Mum had a club sandwich. I had the spiced tuna and Matthew had gammon, egg and chips. The main meals were very nice. We were going to have a dessert, but we had to abandon this after they lost the ticket and left us waiting for half an hour, so we had to cancel dessert. we then went home and I had to write up...Mark

Trip to The Britannia Stadium 11-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2408	Britannia Stadium	Stanley Matthews Way, Blurton	500	Wardle Transport

we had a little time so i decided to take him out to cover the #500. Setting off around 21:00 we walked to The Brit and arrived at around 21:35. We then had around 15 minutes to wait for the bus. The bus turned up and it was Wardle transport 2408.


Wardle Transport 2408 outside the Brit (Matt)

We did the short journey and whilst on the bus Matthew photographed the inside.


Inside 2408 (Matt)

When we got off Matthew got a picture as he sped away.


2408 heads off to the roundabout to turn ready for the northbound service (Matt)

We then crossed the road so he could get a picture at the stop.


2408 about to work the #500 Trentham - Norton (Matt)

Afterwards we had the long walk home...Mark

Trip to Park Hall 10-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40379	Finstock Avenue, Blurton	Lightwood Road	23	First Potteries
40138	Lightwood Road	Park Hall	26	First Potteries
61243	Park hall	Hanley BS	26	First Potteries
4650	hanley BS	Stafford Street, Hanley	61	Wardle Transport
40373	Hanley BS	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	23A	First Potteries

Matthew was taken out today by two people from a local organisation that are employed to look after young adults for a small fee and allow to access things they like to do. Last week was the first time and we broke them in gently by getting them to take Matthew to a local beauty spot by car and then he had a long walk. Today we upped the stakes slightly by arranging for them to take Matthew to Park Hall on the bus! Planning consisted of me printing out a journey plan for each direction using both the west midlands traveline web site for the outward journey and the national traveline door to door website for the return. The journey were deliberately planned for Matthew to change buses in quiet streets well away from any bus stations to ensure maximum success for them in carrying out this task. with instructions in hand and bus fare and travel pass we waved then off and they set off on the long walk to the stop. The journey the WM traveline suggested was one that i would have never though of and it evolved using the half hourly #23 Blurton to Longton via Newstead service to the outskirts of Longton, before catching the #26 forward to Park Hall. They didn't have to wait long before unrequired 40379.


40379 on the #23 Longton Service (Matt)

As far as I am aware this bus was done as per instructions on to Lightwood Road crossed the road and waited.I think they must have missed a bus and had to wait around 30 minutes for the #26 which on this occasion was required 40138. meaning Matthew has now been on both ex chester AG allocated darts in less than two weeks.


40138 on a #26 Meir and the Hanley (Matt)

Matthew we got off at Park Hall around 11:50 and had a wander around for a short while. The weather deteriorated and so the workers decide to go off the plan and catch a bus into Hanley. They waited for the bus around 12:30 and we dropped onto required 61243.


61243 on a 26 Hanley service (Matt)

Once in Hanley Matthew took then up onto the balcony so he could keep and eye on all the comings and goings and also to get pictures. When they suggested to Matthew catching a bus to back to Blurton he wasn't having any of it! He spent 40 minutes up there and they eventually persuaded him down with a drink in the cafe. At this point we spotted Wardle Transport double decker 4650 on a #61 and told them he wanted to catch it. with some quick thinking, they decided to do it for 1 stop so he could get a ride on it. as he got off he got a picture.


4650 in Hanley on a #61 to Tunstall (Matt)

Walking back to the bus station, we saw 'new to the potteries' East Lancs bodied Dennis Dart 40779, and Matthew got a quick snap of it.


Newbie 40779 see on the #1/#2 circuit in Hanley (Matt)

Back at the bus station Matthew was persuaded to get on unrequired Dennis Dart 40373 on a #23A Blurton, which unfortunately he did not get a photograph of. Matthew was a little bit moody when he came home but I think the people looking after him generally did a good job and did some quick thinking. I think they certainly learned a few things today from Matthew :-) ...Mark

Trip to The Britannia Stadium 08-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2408	Britannia Stadium	Stanley Matthews Way, Blurton	500	Wardle Transport

Matthew had been good today and I decided to treat him with a trip out on the #500. It was the first running of this service since the north Staffordshire operations of D&G had been taken over by Arriva Midlands and joined up with Wardle Transport. We walked the best part of two miles to the stop outside the Britannia Stadium, by the time we got there it was proper dark! We had a 10 minute rest before the bus turned up. The bus was Wardle Transport 2408 which is required!


2408 outside the Brit... (Matt)

We Travelled the length of Stanley Matthews Way on the bus. Inside there are still remnants of this buses stint with First PMT, as there are still pink and purple sticker inside the bus. Matthew photographed the classic 'Cityrider' bus moquette.


Cityrider moquette inside 2408 (Matt)

We got off and crossed the road as always and waited for the bus to return to the first stop. We then got a couple of pictures.


At the start... 2408 ready to work the return service (Matt)

We then walked home in near total darkness. A small slither of sky was visible to the NW behind the bus as we walked home...Mark

Trip to Kidsgrove 06-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40026	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Church Street, Stoke	23	First Potteries
116	Church Street, Stoke	Hanley BS	41	D & G
116	Hanley BS	Church Street, Stoke	41	D & G
30	Church Street, Stoke	Hanley BS	41	D & G
60194	Hanley BS	Clough Hall, Forth Ave (opp)	20A	First Potteries
60128	Clough Hall, Forth Ave (adj)	Hanley BS	20A	First Potteries
65732	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	34A	First Potteries

With it being the last weekend of D&G's North Staffordshire operation running before the impending take over by Wardle Transport, I decided to cover the #41 service with Matthew. Firstly because of the fairly frequent service, and secondly because there are sometimes step entranced buses on this service. We set off from home around midday, and we caught the 12:11 #23A service from Blurton. Unusually it was a Solo, and better still it was required! 40026 appeared from around the corner.


40026 in Blurton (Matt)

We did the bus to Stoke and with it being a Solo it filled up pretty quickly especially with two prams in the front.


40026 in Stoke (Matt)

When we arrived in Stoke we had around 5 minutes to wait for the 12:30 #41 service to Hanley, the Clayton bound #41 was D&G 30. Matthew indicated that he wanted to catch this bus later. Eventually the Hanley bound #41 appeared and it was Marshall bodied Dart 116.


D&G 116 in Stoke on the #41 to Birches Head (Matt)

When we got to Hanley, Matthew took a picture of the interior of this bus.

when we arrived in Hanley, Matthew took a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside D&G 116 (Matt)

This bus has the same strange interior as D&G 14 that we saw last week. We saw the Clayton bound bus in Hanley bus station and it was D&G 14! We let the bus go and Matthew got a picture of D&G 14 as it departed.


D&G 14 in Hanley departing for Clayton (Matt)

At this point we decide to have a short chip break. I went down to get two portions of chips from Tony's to share between the three of us, whilst Matthew watched the buses. it didn't take long to get the chips and we soon polished them off. They were washed down with cans of orange Fanta. After around 30 minutes the next Clayton service turned up and not surprisingly it was D&G 116 again. unfortunately, we needed to do this in order to get D&G 30. In the mean time we spotted D&G 132 heading towards Birches Head on the forth and final diagram. we went down to ground level and boarded D&G 116 which we did to Stoke.


D&G 116 in Hanley departing for Clayton (Matt)

When in stoke we didn't have to wait for long before D&G 30 appeared. Matthew got a picture before we boarded.


D&G 30 in Stoke (Matt)

We did this to Hanley and Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus, before we alighted we noticed an Arriva plaque on the drivers door. From the files in the staffordshire and merseyside yahoo group this bus came to D&G via Quantock and was previously with Northumbria Coaches as YD02 RGY.


Inside D&G 30 (Matt)

whilst going up to the balcony, D&G 132 left so we did not get chance to do this bus. At this point we had no plan. Matthew wanted to go to Crewe or even to Alton Towers, but we knew that we would not have today. Eventually we down to catch a #20 and it pulled off. Matthew was reluctant to move so a couple of minutes later when 60194 came in on a #20A we got on it. It was not required but it was virtually empty and it was a bus we could catch out of Hanley. As we were first on Matthew got the interior shot


Inside First Potteries 60194 (Matt)

We did this bus up to Kidsgrove and it was virtually empty all the way. this was because two #20's had left Hanley only a few minutes before. when it pulled up at Tunstall, one passenger at the stop asked "Why isn't anyone getting on?" before he boarded the bus. As I wanted to alight somewhere quiet, we got off two stops out of Kidsgrove at forth avenue, where Matthew got a picture as it pulled off.


60194 powers away in the Clough Hall area of Kidsgrove on it's #20A service (Matt)

Not sure of the frequency, we waited for the bus back to Hanley. we didn't have to wait to long before 60128 appeared.


60128 on a #20A to Hanley (Matt)

We did this back to Hanley and as t emptied Matthew got a shot of the interior.


Inside 60128 (Matt)

When we got back to Hanley we needed to think about getting home. we gave Matthew a few choice of places to go and he chose Newcastle. So we went down to stand where the #34A and #17 services depart from. We didn't have to wait long before required 65732 appeared on a #34A. As we were once again first on Matthew photographed the empty bus.


Inside 65732 (Matt)

Whilst on the bus mum called to ask where we were. this was lucky because my phone had run out of credit. We then arranged to meet at the bus station a few minutes later. When we got to Newcastle Matthew was unable to get a good picture of 65732. We went to the bottom of the bus station to wait for mum. On stand was a 40145 which was about to do a #72 clayton.


40145 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

Also seen was 40153 on an inbound #99A service.



40153 in Newcastle bus station (Matt)

As we were leaving we saw an Arriva midlands bus 3468 N168 PUT, but we were unable to get a picture. We then went Home via Aldi and we picked up some bottle of lager shandy...Mark