Subject: Merthyr Tydfil C. T. 177 (GHB 177J)
Chassis: Leyland Leopard PSU3A/2R
Body: East Lancs B51F
Location: Cathays, Park Place
Date: 16-Feb-1974

The 1971 batch of Leopards seem to have been particularly active on the Cardiff service. 174 was the first of the batch and is still in the original livery although the first bus was painted in the orange livery the same months as the photograph.

For many years the buses from Merthyr Tydfil used Colum Road, Park Place and Queen Street to enter Cardiff, leaving via Kingsway and North Road. The routing probably changed with the pedestrianisation of Queen Street from 3-Nov-1975, with inbound services then also using North Road.

The building behind was originally designed, apparently, in 1890 by the Bute Estate architect and surveyor Edwin Corbett whose name is commemorated by Corbett Road which crosses Park Place a little further north. Latterly used as offices by the University it was demolished in 2018.

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