Subject: Red & White S347 (FWO 637)
Chassis: Albion Valkyrie CX13
Body: BBW B35R
Location: Pontypridd, Chapel Street
Date: early 1960s

This is one of many Albion Valkyries bought in the post-war period. The early purchases had Pickering B35F bodies of almost utility appearance but most were re-bodied with BBW bodies to ECW design like S347, in this case in 1953. The bus was new as 722 in 1947 and received the later fleetnumber in 1951.

S347 is working one of the additional Saturday workings to Treharris which at one time required one Red & White bus and one Pontypridd one, but the requirement later reduced such that a single bus was required, worked by each operator on alternate Saturdays.

The Robertown destination on the Rhondda Regent behind is of interest. There used to be Saturday afternoon extras on the Ynysybwl service to Robertown, called Robertstown by Red & White, but these had ceased by the time of this photo.

Photograph by courtesy of Photobus