I've recently completed a major update of the gallery on Pontypridd and Taff-Ely. This just concentrates on the motorbuses for now but most vehicles ever owned are there, many several times and in different liveries. There are almost 500 Pontypridd UDC/Taff-Ely photos there! In addition there are photographs of other operators on joint routes.

This comprehensive gallery would not have been possible without the willing support of quite a lot of photographers who are acknowledged against all their contributions. They have provided a diversity of both period and location that I could never have achieved.

I have also covered the evolution of the route network, but there is a lot of work to do on the route histories and they must be considered "best guesses" at the moment. There is good geographical coverage of most routes.

There will be another update in time and I would welcome any further contributions of original photographs to fill gaps in the gallery. Comprehensive it may be, but there are many gaps yet! Please contact me if you are willing to help.

I'm trying to make it an accurate reference source so please let me know when you find mistakes (as you surely will) - I welcome corrections.

I hope to gradually extend the route coverage to other parts of the Valleys, but this will take time!

9027Subject: Pontypridd UDC 27 (FNY 422)
Chassis: Guy Arab II
Body: Park Royal UH30/26R
Location: Porth, Pontypridd Road
Date: 1950s

27 looks pristine as it waits for departure time in Porth. It is stood outside the Empire Cinema, next to which was the Lewis Merthyr Collieries Workmen’s Hall and Institute. All that is left of these two buildings now are the distinctive brick columns for the fence in front of the Hall.

From an original negative in the David Beilby collection, photographer unknown