(22 Nov 2015, 9:40 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Would cost an arm and a leg. If we see any of Washington's deckers come out of Saltmeadows Pink (Angel Express), Blue (Pronto) or Yellow / Green (Angel Express), then I think 6043 to 6048 could well stay on the road until 2019/2020 with Riverside / Hexham having 3x spare decent standard spare B9TL Geminis to choose from (minus plug sockets) which could allow 6071 and 6084 to easily step in for 6043 to 6048 and allow maintenance to take place.

If Riverside got really lucky and 1x oddball was sent with the other 6x 12/62 plates to Crook (meaning 6049 going to Riverside due to it having a tachograph), then Riverside would have 3x Tachographed B9TL Geminis in total (2x which are supposed to be on the TEN and 1x dedicated spare) plus the other 2x non tachographed spare B9TLs which could stand in for 6071 and 6084 which would then join 6049 if 3x TTX B9s were off the road for maintenance, defects or PSV tests.

Fairly obvious that the Pronto is going to get newer stock but it's a waiting game to see whether or not this will be factory fresh or cascades in the form of the Red Arrows and given the 7-1 rule which was not followed for the TEN (or technically the TTX due to the nature of the route) plus the need for more B9s at Riverside, then I'd say that the latter is definitely more likely and this is why I've always mentioned the Red Arrows getting newer stock and one of the reasons being that it would allow 6043 to 6048 to be kept just that little bit longer until a proven heavyweight double deck (Scania E400MMC) is established in the market.

Not going to mention it anymore (before anybody posts a picture of Uncle Albert gan on about the war or that bloke in his armchair with his hand on his head). Will wait and see if my theory happens or any new stock comes from Heysham (or Scarborough).