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Interesting video I've just found from today:



Stupid man in this video - very dangerous trying to hold onto the steering wheel when it's moving. Bit of a design flaw in the anti-assault screen here seemingly.

Having never been on this route, where does it turn around in Cranes Park? Looking at the NX route map, it just seems to end on a road, with no turning area for the bus? I'm probably missing something obvious!

Thanks in advance

Basically this is a passenger version of 2900s reviews - write on this topic any buses you've been on, your opinion on them and score them out of 10. This is so the drivers opinions are separate to the passenger opinions - they can vary due to the fact that drivers can give further detail of handling, braking etc. It also avoids the likes of me clogging up that thread!

I'll start off with these three -

1912 - Smooth riding, very few rattles, and internally and externally smart. 9/10
4041 - Suspension not great, some loud rattles from panels and body - interior still smart though. 6/10
4375 - Suspension fine, rattles at back of upper deck. Powerful engine however - fast pull off.  8/10

Hi there everyone - thought this would be a good task to complete and provide a useful bit of information on the forum. I am trying to collate the number of running boards for each route NXWM run - I have filled in what I think is correct in the far right column which is just my own thoughts on the running board number. It could well be wrong! Drivers and staff at NX who are on this forum would be most helpful in this particularly. Please amend the table as you think and then upload it in your post, so we have a work in progress version. This idea has been set off by my work experience at NXWM, certainly in the AVL, where the amount of running boards is immense. I thought it would be useful (and fun at the same time!) for us on the outside to have an idea of vehicle requirements on the network so we can keep up to date on the fleet's usage, which bus routes have what bus type, and the amount of spares approximately a garage would have on a good day - i.e no excessive amount broken down, MOT etc.

Thank you in advance for all those who will contribute on this. The most recent version shall be uploaded in this first post and also in the latest post by me.

I went to YW yesterday and whilst there someone said to me about the possibility of a new livery being rolled out again. He gave me a design of it and looks very similar to the  toothpaste livery. There is another version, with no silver lines. They are thinking of introducing this on the new ADL buses from mid June and the toothpaste Enviro 400s at YW, but they're going to test the livery out on a YW Scania, 1922, and also 1408, which is why the latter is currently withdrawn.  Personally think they're great although still no blue, but better than current offering from NX.

As this is a transport related forum I thought this certainly deserved some mention. Sadly MH370 is still missing and whilst I still hope for good news, it seems that it may have crashed into the ocean. If the latter is asserted by the authorities then I send my deepest condolences to those who have perished and those who remain behind to suffer the tragedy. 227 passengers and 12 members of crew were onboard the Boeing 777-200. There are rumours of an oil slick being found and that the aircraft lost height rapidly within a very short distance (according to Chinese radar). There is still no definite news though so I only hope that there is a miracle and it is found. If anyone else wants to send their hopes or ideas of what may have happened then please post.

Hi there

This Saturday hoping to go up to Wolverhampton/Walsall in order to get on some of the Liberators (or Crusaders) as haven't been on any for a year or two since they were replaced at AG. Anyone know the best routes for catching these and thanks in advance?

Hi there

Maybe should be in Acocks Green garage thread; wasn't too sure. Does anyone know what the PVRs are for the 37, 71, 72 and 5 at Acocks Green garage. thanks in advance

Hi everyone, just got to Camp Hill school, Vicarage road is closed heading towards the high street just outside the school due to car crash. The 11A and 35 are driverting off the road by turning right before the lights before the school. Not sure of route after then, but 11A and 35 certainly having to divert. 76, 27 and 11C unaffected

Caught my usual 76E this morning with 4375 doing the duty. The bus pulled up at Solihull Station and then the driver preceded to depress and release the brake pedal in order to empty the air tanks to move the steering column. The 6 driver in front then came back to chat and then helped out by repeatedly opening and closing the doors. The tank took an age to empty and even then the column was barely moving and sticking in a fairly poor position for our driver. Driver was a cheerful chap and was joking about the fact that he wished he had the Scania in front! Couldn't blame him considering the Trident's steering column was sticking and the heating non existant. The driver then had to refill the tank by flooring the engine in neutral. In comparison I was on a Scania on the 6 earlier this week when we had a change of driver. Soon as the driver had got in there was a hissing of air and the column was then able to be adjusted. There didn't seem to be any of this effort to release the air out of the tanks.

Is there a switch on the Scanias in order to release the air in order to move the column or was I just mistaken?

Any engineer or driver's answers would be much appreciated.

Hi there; I catch the 76E from Solihull to Kings Heath every weekday in order to get to school; most pf the drivers continue to the 11/35 stop on Vicarage Road which is near the school gates. However, such as this morning, some of the drivers call out "last stop" at the 76 stop before, meaning a long walk down to the school. It is rather frustrating that there is such inconsistency and looking at the forum topic "School Services" one poster has put;

"the 76E to Camp Hill according to the running board is meant drop off at the 11/35 stop on Vicarage Road."
(http://wmbusphotos.com/forum/index.php?topic=2171.15)

I am emailing National Express to clarify  but does anyone at Yardley Wood garage know the actual rule at the moment?

Hi there; I noticed today whilst sitting in 2114 and 4905 s cabs, that there was a third pedal. Is this the coin release pedal for the money to deposited into the money box or is it to change the fare stage on the ticket machine. Could someone please clarify? Thanks in advance

Hi there, yesterday (Saturday 20th September) I caught the 76 back to Solihull from Kings Heath Vicarage Road, as I do everyday weekday. It then took nearly 10 minutes to reach the high street where 4352, 4342 and another YW Trident were parked up on the 35. They were trying to turn left however they couldn't due to the Police blocking the road off towards Birmingham. The 50s were turning down Vicarage Road and there was traffic chaos. Fortunately the 76 was unaffected apart from the traffic. Does anyone have any idea what was going on? Some said it was some kind of protest... Thanks in advance

P.S it was my lucky day really, as the south part of the high street was still open for the 76 and the driver kindly waited for me despite having loaded everyone else!

When the Metro extension is built and being built where will all the buses be routed along corporation street? For example the 37 as I think the Metro is going to be more trouble than its worth. Its going to affect the buses badly and also the time its going to take just to get to New Street, well forget the airport in the next 50 years!

At my school today a school trip to Manchester United started in disaster. We have these narrow school gates which are really inadequate leading out onto the Warwick Road. The Johnsons coach apparently hit the gates and damaged something and had to be taken out of service due to the damage! Fortunately another coach was provided. Has anyone else ever had a incident involving a coach or bus suffering damage and seen it. I remember being on a NXWM Gemini a few months ago on the 966 and the mirror was smashed off after hitting a lamp post! ::)

In terms of NXWM buses, how wide can a seat be in a 2+2 layout. I went on a NXWM bus today and I must say the seats are pretty narrow and with a low back. I looked at a bus like the Man CitySmart with their KIEL seats and they look much better. Would a seat like this (http://www.kiel-sitze.de/index.php?puid=2&pageid=345) (then check dimensions) with the arm rests fit in a bus like a Wright Liberator, Crusader or Eclipse Urban in a 2+2 layout? They just look so much more comfortable!

As the title suggests, what are the dimensions for the Eclipse urbans from 2006/2007 including height and width? I'm currently researching the different types of UK bus and I can't find anywhere what the dimensions are for these. Thanks in advance!

This is slightly random but never really thought about. On buses such as the EclipseUrbans  http://www.flickr.com/photos/74108043@N06/7227661056/sizes/k/in/photostream/
how are the interior lights changed. Do they take down the panels around or does the lights itself come off. Also with the panels how are they actually put on to the metal frame underneath, or is there some sort of material behind them?

Thanks in advance!

I was wondering what the width of NXWM's Wright crusader B6BLEs are as I was reading the Wright story and it gave the similar Cadets width, but  didn't mention the Crusaders' width. Are they same?

I see on 553's page that it has been sold. Does anyone know to which company or dare I say it, scrapman?