Subject: Pontypridd UDC 12 (TG 1954)
Chassis: Bristol B
Body: Eastwood and Kenning B32R
Location: Pontypridd, Taff Street
Date: c.1948

Bristol B 12 is poised to operate Pontypridd’s hilliest route to Penycoedcae. It is carrying the pre-war lined-out livery, probably a legacy of its rather inactive war period. It was converted to producer gas in August 1940 and reduced to B29R. It was then laid up from December 1941 to February 1947. It was withdrawn in 1949, not long after this photograph.

The billboards behind display a range of once-famous names including Claude Rains, Betty Grable and David Niven. “Bonnie Prince Charlie” was in Technicolour but that seems to be its one redeeming feature. “Mother Wore Tights” was better-received, winning an Oscar for the score and being nominated for two others.

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