CATCH-A-BUS
Catch-a-Bus was the bus operating division of Hylton Castle Coaches, a coach firm
based in East Boldon. It commenced operations on the first day of bus deregulation
in October 1986, with services operated by Duple coach-bodied Leyland Leopard
coaches, previously used on private hire turns. The first routes were the 1 and 2
circulars, taking in Westoe, Horsley Hill, Marsden, Biddick Hall, General Hospital
and Laygate. These routes survived with only slight revision until the end of
services in August 1997. The other route was the 3, and hourly trip to Newcastle,
which also passed the quayside on Sundays. Before too long, the Leopards were
ousted by second-hand Leyland Nationals, mostly from Greater Manchester PTE.
These complex buses proved unsuitable for a small independent operator so they
were replaced by much older Bristol REs of RELL, RESL and RELH varieties, purchased
from a variety of sources. This coincided with the use in South Shields of many
second-hand Bristol REs by Busways, making the town a haven for vintage single-
deckers!
The 3 route had long gone by this time, replaced by the service 6 to Sunderland,
and the 48 to Brockley Whins. 'Spoiler' buses over Busways routes 16, E1, E2, and X20
attempted to siphon off passengers but were soon withdrawn. Another attempt at a Newcastle
run, the 15, ended after only a few weeks.
The REs were also gradually replaced over time, with just two surviving until the
end. Bus-bodied Leopards began to appear in quantity, with some coming from Darlington
Corporation which had just been forced out of business by Stagecoach. Catch-a-Bus also
felt confident enough to purchase some new Plaxton-bodied Dennis Darts and some newer
Leyland Nationals made a surprise return to the fleet. Bizarrely, two ex-Strathclyde PTE
Atlanteans were also purchased and given single-deck East Lancs bodies!
Unfortunately, Busways new owners, Stagecoach, decided it could not put up with competition
in South Shields and introduced 'spoiler' services 18A and E6 over CAB routes to force
them off the road. CAB held out for a few months, but in August Bank Holiday Monday 1997,
with no ceremony and virtually no warning to passengers, the final bus ran.
Hylton Castle Coaches still survives as an indepentent coach and private hire operator.
| A Duple-bodied Leyland Tiger in Keppel Street. The bus has just arrived from
Biddick Hall vis Stanhope Road on the circuitous 1 route. |
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One of several Leyland Leopards and Tigers rebodied by Plaxton for Catch-a-Bus,
some hailing from Northern and United. This one is on the 6 from Sunderland,
which was almost always worked by these vehicles. |
| One of the last buses to arrive in the Catch-a-Bus fleet was this superb ECW
bodied Bristol RE (THL 261H), the oldest bus to run for CAB. |
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Another view of THL 261H under the railway bridge at Keppel Street bus stands. |
| One of the second batch of Leyland Nationals to arrive, this was of the short
10.3 metre type. |
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Some Plaxton-bodied Leopards arrived from Darlington Corporation towards the
end of CAB operations. These buses were new to Lancashire United, arriving
at Darlington via Newcastle Busways! |
| Another view of a Plaxton-bodied Leopard approaching Fowler Street. |
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| The other Bristol RE survivor was YFM 283L, which I believe was new to Crosville. |
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| This Duple-bodied Leyland Leopard is seen in Brockley Whins approaching the
railway station. |
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| This Duple Leopard is approaching th Market.The Duple bus-bodied vehicles included
among their number an excellent AEC Reliance. |
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| The Leyland National 2s were comparitavely late arrivals to the CAB fleet. This
ex-United example (A132 FDC) is laying over between duties in the Market Place. |
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| Another of the National 2s entering Keppel Street bus stands. Behind it can be
seen the old Police Station, which is soon to be demolished. |
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| This Plaxton-bodied Leopard is about to go under the Metro bridge at Keppel
Street. |
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| One of the numerous rebodied Plaxton Leopards. This one is caught at Chichester
on the 6, with a Busways Dennis Dart behind it. Most of these buses were given
private registration plates owned by Hylton Castle. For their first few weeks
they ran in the plates they had worn when they looked quite different with
their previous operators! |
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