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One in Nuneaton about an hour ago (17:30) taking photos, got Stagecoach 36153 which I was on at the time.

[56028 – 56050 Van Hool Astromega TDX27 Euro6 Van Hool]

Just to bare in mind guys that the list is likely to have inaccuracies with the order only just being announced. I've already seen conflicting information that 56028 – 56050 Van Hool Astromega TDX27 Euro6 Van Hool are for Italy and not Rugby! Not that far away at least...

It's not looking that way so far @leepenfold30 but Leamington are getting Solo SRs as I expected, to replace the current Gold Solos which according to Nuneaton's engineers, are in a worse state than their 04 reg ones (hence their refurbishment and further stay - the Gold ones were considered as replacements).

But a list has appeared, I imagine it's probably not going to stay 100% like this, especially with some allocations not shown. So far it is as follows:

STAGECOACH ORDERS 2015 – 2016.
10431 – 10487 Enviro 400 Euro 6 Enviro 400MMC
10431 – 10442 for Oxford.
10443 – 10451 for Wigan.
Rest unallocated.

12364 – 12389 Enviro 400H Enviro 400
All for London.

13041 – 13080 Volvo B5LH Enviro 400MMC
All for London.

15211 – 15220 Scania N230UD Enviro 400
For Fenstanton (guided busway).

15221 – 15260 Scania N230UD Enviro 400
15221 – 15225 for Lillyhall.
15226 – 15249 for Chorley.
15250 for Torquay.
15251 – 15260 for Exeter.

15261 – 15290 Scania N230UD Enviro 400MMC
No allocations shown.

21301 – 21310 Volvo B8R Wrightbus Eclipse
For Fenstanton.

26001 – 26033 Enviro 200 Enviro 200MMC
26001 – 26019 for Cowdenbeath.
26020 – 26023 for Barnsley.
26024 – 26033 for Rawmarsh.

27211 – 27299 Enviro 300 Enviro 300
27211- 27225 for Glasgow.
27226 for South West.
27227 – 27228 for Glasgow.
27229 – 27237 for Wigan.
27238 – 27254 for Stockton.
27255 – 27272 for Rock Ferry.
27273 – 27299 no allocations shown.

28721 – 28748 Scania N3230UB Enviro 300
28721 – 28741 for Cwmbran.
28742 – 28746 for Banbury.
28747 – 28748 for Lillyhall.

36601 – 36608 Enviro 200 Enviro 200MMC
For Romford.

37301 – 37327 Enviro 200 Enviro 200
37301 – 37319 for South Shields.
37320 – 37326 for Gloucester.
37327 for Hastings.

37401 – 37423 Enviro 200 Enviro 200MMC
No allocations shown.

47941 - 47966 Optare Solo M920SR Optare
All for Carlisle.

47967 – 47980 Optare Solo M990SR Optare
All for Leamington Spa.

48001 – 48020 Optare Solo M920SL Optare
48001 – 48002 for Carlisle.
48003 – 48020 for Exeter.

48021 – 48025 Optare Solo M990SL Optare
All for King's Lynn.

53801 – 53812 Volvo B8R Plaxton Elite i
All for Aberhill.

54241 – 54262 Volvo B11R Plaxton Elite i
54241 – 54257 for Buchan / Peterhead.
54258 – 54262 for Glasgow.

54263 – 54276 Volvo B11R Plaxton Elite i
All for Rugby.

56028 – 56050 Van Hool Astromega TDX27 Euro6 Van Hool
All for Rugby.

Source :- British Bus Publishing, Stagecoach 2015 Handbook.

It only does on certain peak time journeys, but it's only a short walk from the main NXC 20 and SC 48 routes anyway, as soon as you see a small Sainsbury's Local on the left, press the bell and you'll be dropped off opposite the Black Bank Pub, just behind you and across the road is Colliery Lane, go down there and take the first right, it's then on the right as you get to the bend.
It's not that far from my house so let me know if you need any more help! :)

And Stagecoach deroofing an E400, but this time the driver was on route, Someone had given him a double decker to go under an 11'6" bridge!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/i-could-dead-top-deck-5473736?ICID=FB_mirror_main

I like how the branch looper bars are pretty much perfectly in place but the rest of the top deck isn't!

2154 was in Bedworth on the 20 at 16:45 with 2159 on the opposite side of the road broken down. Hope this is of some help!

Yesterday:
39687 on the 48

Today:
47076 on the 5 (not one of the usual journeys)
47071 on the 56 - good thing it's the school holidays or that wouldn't have been fun!

9/9A branded 2159 was on the 20, not sure if it still is now though *see breakdowns topic*

2159 broken down in Bedworth about half an hour ago, hazards going and Not In Service showing but no visible leaks etc. so I'm assuming it just conked out.

And now 39685 is the latest Stagecoach breakdown victim, seen at 05:40am this morning (I believe it had been working the 03:15am 767 from Nuneaton, Red Deeps). Judging by the spill on the road when I had finished earlier, it looks like yet another coolant pipe bursting, now the 4th I've witnessed in a year on this same bus type!
If it was the 03:15am, then it would have broken down about 04:15am. I bet the on-call engineer was happy about being dragged out of bed at that time!

Pic: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1566279090319314&l=ce42007e6b

It must have been fixed pretty soon after, as I just had it on a 57 half an hour ago.

I always assumed it was quiet because nobody actually had a clue that buses ran on Easter Sunday, despite the fact they have pretty much since Sunday trading was made legal!

All I heard over and over all day on Thursday was "Are buses running tomorrow?" and "Is it Sunday service tomorrow?". You would have thought with all the notices and the fact it's been the same every year since the bubonic plague that people would have realised by now! Then again, you could have "51 Walsall via Go F**k Yourself" in big letters on a bright orange LED blind and nobody would notice it all day long :P

I think the passenger useage decrease would probably depend on what areas the route serves, more open shops would equal a lesser drop in passenger numbers I imagine. I remember the Coventry 19X service I was on on a New Year's Day was a full standing load on an evening return journey to Tile Hill South, people getting in on the sales, whereas there being not so much in the way of sales on Easter Sunday, it's pretty much your bog standard Sunday.

@Ally Yeah, very much. Thank You! I shall refer back to this opon my next visit. And, just a little perk, but kudos on your layout. Well planned and reassuringly pleasing for a 'neat-freak' like me. Lol! :D

You're welcome, glad to have been of assistance!

I'm the same there, I always have to have everything in a perfect layout ;D

[Here is a selection of quiet suburban areas I can suggest for some quite good photos in the Coventry area:]

Here is a selection of quiet suburban areas I can suggest for some quite good photos in the Coventry area:

Allesley Village (7,82,900): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1461408384139719&l=5034cdb433
Good for old buildings and flowery backdrops. If you continue on to the 7 terminus, there's an old WMPTE sign on revving engines still in place: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1462444564036101&l=a69f11c884

Belvedere Road, Earlsdon (11,12): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1461071984173359&l=cde4e9e246
Quiet and posh estate, careful not to look like a burglar!

Allesley Park Terminus (23): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1524003964546827&l=1378ef450e
Nice green backdrop at the terminus, but I've never had any good luck with sun there, as can be seen!

Tile Hill Village/South Terminus (5,18,18A): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1564944897119400&l=63e8d34810
Buses enter here from 2 different directions, usually with plenty of layover.

Tanyard Farm Terminus (6/6A): Can't find my photos for here, but it is another good and quiet place for photos or along Tanners Way on the approach, as is the Victoria Farm terminus and Anderton Road approaching, on the 6A. Fenside is also another good and quiet place on the 2/3 routes.


If you time it in the peaks and fancy some shots on an Industrial Estate, you can try this:
Bayton Road Ind Est, Bedworth (Certain Peak 20's): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1524008324546391&l=8ee2e14803
Towards Bedworth in AM peak, towards Coventry in PM peak. Into Warwickshire, but your pass is still valid. There's also some good shots from the main road near the M6 bridge, traffic permitting.


If you do end up fancying some shots in busier areas, you can also try:
Binley Road - Clifford Bridge Road, Binley (13,13A,16,16A,86,360A/C): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1419205211693370&l=e84a261340
Plenty of places to stand, plus some good shots if you stand in the right places

Kenilworth Road (11,U2,U12,U17,X16,X17): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1407534089527149&l=075f5b6558
About a 5 minute walk from a bus stop, good for rural shots and on the NXC 11 route. Just touching into the Warwickshire boundary but your pass is still valid

Nauls Mill House Bridge, Nr. Ring Road (13,16,16A,17B,735): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1382347665379125&l=d71d86ee56
Literally the opposite side of the Coventry ringroad and just up from a 900 stop, good if you like shots from a bridge, not best advertised by this mobile phone picture!


I would suggest avoiding Willenhall and particularly Wood End if you value your life! I was considering trying Howes Lane on the 9 routes and Leasowes Avenue on the 9A terminus but haven't gotten around to trying them yet, Leasowes is a quiet surburban area (if you don't go at school kick out time) and Howes is a leafy tree area from memory.

Hopefully these are all of some help! :)

If only it was it could help people so much... It won't I know just saying.

I agree that it would be brilliant if it were public, but of course like you say, it probably won't be, possibly ever - probably because the tabloids would end up having a big palarva scare mongering people about terrorists using it to their advantage or something silly like that!

It'd be perfect for rainy days...

Think about it, there could be another reason, incorrectly written running board!

That's reminded me of one of Stagecoach Nuneaton's old running boards actually, according to what it said, you had to go back in time 5 minutes to get to the next timing point!
Plus, at the time, every single one had the wrong inbound bus station stand on it! I.e. you could do 7x route 5 in a row, leaving from stand A3, but it would tell you to drop passengers off on a completely different stand when you return, then be expected to pick up again on A3 for the next trip, which would mean exiting the bus station and re-entering again!