Subject: Rhondda 219 (GNY 371)
Chassis: AEC Regent III O961
Body: Weymann H30/26R
Location: Trehafod, Coedcae Road
Date: early 1950s

This is a posed photograph in the sense that photographer seems to have asked those in the queue to look at the camera, although many would have done that anyway as a camera was still relatively uncommon at the time.

However, there is no doubt the bus is in service and taking workers home from Lewis Merthyr Colliery. Its condition implies that it was specially selected.

Rhondda seemed to persist in calling this site Coedcae Colliery despite the Coedcae shaft, just off camera to the left, not being used for production since the 1930s. It only reached the shallower bituminous coal seams whereas the Trefor and Bertie shafts in the background were deeper and reached the more valuable steam coal.

Photograph from Rhondda Transport Golden Jubilee booklet, published 1956.