CTPG were on tender hooks the two days before Bus & Coach Wales 2015 as rain
all day was forecast. On Friday, Cardiff 360, our yellow open top bus with our name
all along its side and Rhondda 495 passed their MOT so all was set! The forecast
improved, but it was touch and go. Saturday morning started with many CTPG
members up early departing with a record number of buses from Barry Depot and
others welcoming stall holders at Merthyr Tydfil. Assistance by Leisure Centre staff
helped out as vehicles arrived.
Most of the cars that had entered did arrive and nearly all the buses and coaches too.
Some people rang our mobiles to ask if the rally was still on! The first heritage bus
trip of the day was given over to former Stagecoach 759 a B10M in James colours
destined for The Brecon Mountain Railway – a light load but that was usual for the
first departure; the second dispatched by Lee, our bus stop inspector, went off to
Blaenavon for the new Rhymney Brewery – a new trip and a long journey at 40
minutes each way.
Buses in the display area ranged from brand new vehicles such as Edwards Coaches
Mercedes Tourismo and a new Stagecoach X3-X4 ADL bus from Cwmbran, whilst
on the heritage front a Bristol LH in National Bus Green represented Western
National, and Merthyr Tydfil 100 (964DTJ) Leyland Tiger Cub graced the collection
amongst many others whilst Leyland double deckers from Newport Corporation and
Wigan Corporation were there along with Bristol VRs from South Wales.
As usual RT Williams brought many of their recovery vehicles to add to the display.
Free bus service turns by CTPG and members included the 1960s Leyland Titans
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from Bedwas & Machen UDC and the two from Caerphilly UDC, 1966 Leyland Tiger
Cub from Western Welsh along with 1981 Leyland leopard ex. Islwyn B.T. The two
open top buses Cardiff 360 and 434 also proved very popular. Myrddin Jones also did a
run in his 1985 Van Hool bodied Leyland Tiger coach.
The Swansea Bus Museum brought into service their recently restored 1959 AEC
Bridgemaster South Wales 1203 and 1964 AEC single deck Regent V South Wales 38
did a duplicate run.
Just before 1pm Martin Doe brought his bus, AEC Regent V Rhondda 495 to the front of
the Leisure Centre and veteran broadcaster Roy Noble OBE along with Bryngold Books
Publisher David Roberts and author Jonathan Isaacs launched a new book “Remembering
Rhondda – The bus company that helped win a war”.
From about 11 till 4 the sun was out but dark clouds on the horizon meant the event
closed quickly. Mike Taylor noted many more visitors this year, around 3,000 were
thought to have been to our show and he thanked all volunteers and sponsors SixtySixty
Coaches, R.T. Williams, Brecon Mountain Railway and new this year Rhymney
Brewery and Griffin Mill Garages.
Thanks also go the Merthyr Tydfil Council, Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre for the site
venue and to Bryngold Books for the design work and printing this year’s glossy colour
24pp Show Guide.
