Subject: Rhondda 208 (FTG 202), 188 (FNY 531) and 209 (FTG 203)
Chassis: Daimler CWA6 (FTG 202/3), Guy Arab II 6LW (FNY 531)
Body: Brush UH30/26R (FTG 202/3), Park Royal UH30/26R (FNY 531)
Location: Porth, Cymmer Colliery
Date: 1950

Guy Arab 188 is sandwiched between two Daimlers. All three had been rebuilt - 188 and 208 by Longwell Green in 1948 and 1949 respectively. 209 was a Starkey rebuild also from 1949 and has been fitted with sliding ventilators, apart from which all three seem to have changed very little.

This photograph made me realise that several photos I had assumed were at the depot could not be, as Lady Lewis Colliery was some distance from even the top of the site and also the other side of the railway, so this had to be another colliery.

Once I had identified it as Cymmer Colliery it made sense as the colliery ceased production in 1939 (although it remained open for pumping to protect Lewis Merthyr colliery until 1983). The site would therefore become available just as Rhondda would need it and the location would be quite convenient operationally being near to the existing depot. The buses would be readily visible from a bus arriving from Pontypridd, which may explain how the photographer found it.

Photograph by courtesy of Alan Cross