Thursday 14 July 2011

Trip to Stoke 14-07-2011


















































BusFromToServiceOperator

T131 SGABlurtonAbbey HultonCharterZ carz
T131 SGAAbbey HultonBlurtonCharterZ carz
40171Waterside Drive, Shepley GroveStoke railway station23First Potteries
66838Stoke railway stationCauldon College (adj)25First Potteries
2406Cauldon College (opp)Stanley Matthews Way, Hem Heath500Wardle 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

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