gelligaer udc 1928-1974

Gelligaer UDC 1928-1974

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First Published 2015 by the Local Transport History Library. Second edition 2018.

With thanks to John Kaye and David Everett (courtesy John Kaye) for illustrations.

© The Local Transport History Library 2018. (www.lthlibrary.org.uk)For personal use only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in aretrieval system, transmitted or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic,mechanical or otherwise for commercial gain without the express written permissionof the publisher. In all cases this notice must remain intact. All rights reserved.

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CONTENTS

Gelligaer UDC - Fleet History 1928 - 1974.….….…….……….……………………….

Gelligaer UDC - Bus Fleet List 1928 - 1974………………………………………………

Cover Illustration: No.10 (MTG883) a 1953 AEC Regal III originally with LongwellGreen 35-seat bodywork but was rebuilt in 1966 by Gelligaer UDC and re-numberedfrom its original number of 12. (David Everett courtesy David Kaye).

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Although the local Council had buses demonstrated to them as early as February 1921,it was not to be until September 1928 that Gelligaer (until 1954 it was spelledGellygaer) UDC commenced its first bus service. Running from Bargoed, which was thecentre of operations for Gelligaer UDC, via Gelligaer village, to Ystrad Mynach, theroute was initially operated by five Leyland A13 vehicles on hire from Hall, Lewis andCompany of Cardiff, but later that year four new Leyland TS2 buses (Nos. 1-4) withLeyland B29D bodywork, and two Hall Lewis-bodied Albions (Nos. 5-6) replaced them.The first four vehicles were liveried red and cream, but the Albions introduced a red,green and cream, livery, reputedly based on the colours of the Welsh national flag,these colours forming the basic livery throughout the lifetime of the undertaking,although for a period after World War II, grey replaced the white.

In October 1928, a service between Bargoed and Deri commenced (extended later toPontlottyn, via Fochriw), part of the route from Blackwood to Deri previously operatedentirely by the West Monmouthshire Omnibus Board. The remaining section (Black-wood - Bargoed) was operated jointly by the two undertakings from 1931. InNovember 1928 a further service, between Bargoed and Pontlottyn commenced (laterextended to Rhymney and Rhymney Bridge), and finally, in December of the sameyear, a service between Bargoed and Nelson, via Gelligaer, was inaugurated. All theseservices faced competition from private operators and in the early years the venturewas beset with financial problems, although the situation was alleviated somewhat inMarch 1929 when two of the local operators, Ystrad Saloon Coaches and AmberServices, both operating on the Bargoed to Ystrad Mynach route were taken over. In


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the same year, Lewis and James, who were operating on the Bargoed to Deri route,came to an agreement with the West Monmouthshire Omnibus Board and handed overtheir Deri to Bargoed service, which was subsequently passed to Gelligaer UDC,reducing the number of private operators still further.

The fleet remained entirely single-deck for a number of years, with AEC and Leylandvehicles predominating, the garage being unsuitable for double-deckers. The first AECvehicles (Nos. 7-9) in the fleet came with the take-over of Ystrad Saloon Coaches in1929 and in 1931 five more AEC Regal's were ordered, and it was not until 1938 thatanother manufacturer's products were chosen, in the shape of two Leyland TS8's (Nos.15-16). During World War II, the inevitable Bedford OWB made an appearance, alongwith the first double-deck vehicles (two Daimler CWA6's with Brush L27/28R body-work) in 1944, which had to be parked on the street when not in use because of thelimitations of the depot.

On the 1st November 1945, the business of Jones Brothers (Treharris) Ltd., was jointlytaken over (with Caerphilly UDC, Pontypridd UDC and the West MonmouthshireOmnibus Board) along with three vehicles, but one, a 1932 Dennis Lancet was neveroperated. The take-over brought with it routes from Nelson and Bedlinog, and fromBlackwood, to Pontypridd.

Apart from minor modifications to service timings, the network of routes remainedlargely unchanged until August 1968, when a joint route between Newport and


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Rhymney Bridge, with Red & White Services, Western Welsh Omnibus Company, andBedwas & Machen UDC commenced.

By this time the depot, which had been constructed in the early part of the decade onan open site, was to be found in New Road, Tiryberth.

Throughout the lifetime of the undertaking operational costs were kept to a minimumand in the middle of the 1960's Gelligaer introduced one-man operation, usingsecond-hand motor-driven Setright machines bought from Macbraynes. Since the onlyvehicles at the time to have electrically operated doors were Nos. 33-34, two AECReliances of 1966, it often meant that drivers had to manually open the doors using alever in the cab.

In 1973 a move towards the private hire market was made and two Duple-bodiedBedford coaches (Nos. 102-103) were purchased, along with two dual-purpose vehi-cles (Nos. 100-101) from Western Welsh.

On the 1st April 1974, under local government re-organisation, Gelligaer UDC becamepart of Rhymney Valley District Council, and the fleet was merged with those ofneighbouring Bedwas & Machen UDC and Caerphilly UDC, to form the new RhymneyValley District Council fleet, thus ending over 45 years of Gelligaer UDC as a municipaloperator in its own right.


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Bus Fleet List1928-1974

This list is in the format - Fleet No; Reg. No; Chassis; Chassis No; Body; Seating.

1928

1; TX6324; Leyland TS2; 60175; Leyland; B29D2; TX6326; Leyland TS2; 60198; Leyland; B29D3; TX6367; Leyland TS2; 60176; Leyland; B29D4; TX6369; Leyland TS2; 60177; Leyland; B29D5-6; TX6459-6460; Albion SplB24; 4312B-C; Hall Lewis; B20F

Withdrawn 1933 (5-6), 1936 (1), 1939 (2-4).


Although not very clear this single-decker would appear to be Gelligaer No. 4 (TX6369) a 1928 LeylandTS2 with Leyland 29-seat dual-entrance bodywork. (LTHL collection).


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1929

7; TX606; AEC 414; 414018; United; B26D8; NY9178; AEC 202; 202161; United; B24D9; NY7501; AEC 202; 202087; United; B25D9; TX7748; Thornycroft A6; 18285; Northern Counties; B26?10; TX6097; Thornycroft SB; 14950; Hall Lewis; B26?11; TX2462; Lancia Pentaiota; 1387; Hall Lewis; B26?

Nos. 7-9[NY7501] ex-Ystrad Saloon Coaches (new 1925 [8-9] or 1926 [7]).Nos. 10-11 ex-Amber Services (new 1927[11] or 1928).Withdrawn 1929 (9[NY7501]), 1931 (7-8, 11), 1932 (10), 1934 (9[TX7748]).

1931

7; TG1152; AEC Regal; 662946; Metcalfe; B30D8; TG1154; AEC Regal; 662947; Metcalfe; B30D11; TG1339; AEC Regal; 662962; Metcalfe; B30D12; TG2590; AEC Regal; 662951; Weymann; B32D13; TG2599; AEC Regal; 6621119; Weymann; B32D

Nos. 7, 11-13 rebuilt to B32R (probably) by Short Bros. between 1934 and 1939.Withdrawn 1933 (8), 1943 (11), 1944 (7), 1947 (13), 1953 (12).


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1932

10; TG3523; AEC Renown; 664220; Weymann; B38D

No. 10 probably rebuilt to B38R by 1934.Withdrawn 1947 (10).

1933

8; TG4475; AEC Regal; 6621447; Weymann; B32D

No. 8 probably rebuilt to B32R by 1934.Withdrawn 1950 (8).

1934

5; TG6595; AEC Regal 4; 0642071; Weymann; B32R6; TG6594; AEC Regal 4; 0642070; Weymann; B32R9; TG8266; AEC Q; 0762031; Short; B39C

Withdrawn 1942 (9), 1945 (6), 1946 (5).


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1936

14; MV295; AEC Regal 4; 642008; Short; B32F

No. 14 ex-AEC demonstrator (new 1931).Withdrawn 1944 (14).

1937

1; BTX113; AEC Q; 0762170; Strachan; B39C

No. 1 rebuilt by Gelligaer UDC by 1946 and re-seated to B36C.Withdrawn 1950 (1).

1938

15-16; DNY448-449; Leyland TS8; 300526-27; Strachan; B37F

Nos. 15-16 fitted with new Burlingham B36F bodies in 1945 or 1946 (16); re-seatedto B34F at a later date.Withdrawn 1954 (15), 1956 (16).


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1939

2; DTX652; AEC Regal; 06623372; Strachan; B36R4; ETG77; Leyland TS8; 303271; Strachan; B36R

No. 2 rebuilt to B34F by Green in 1946.No. 4 rebuilt to B34F by Bruce in 1950.Withdrawn 1954 (2), 1958 (4).

1943

3; FNY173; Bedford OWB; 11883; Duple; B32F9; FNY172; Bedford OWB; 11790; Duple; B32F17; FNY171; Bedford OWB; 11842; Duple; B32F18; FNY457; Bedford OWB; 15832; Duple; B32F

Nos. 3, 9, 17-18 re-seated to B30F at a later date.No. 18 re-numbered 11 in 1944.Withdrawn 1949 (9), 1950 (17, 18[11]), 1953 (3).


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1944

7; FNY704; Daimler CWA6; 11847; Brush; L27/28R14; FNY703; Daimler CWA6; 11846; Brush; L27/28R18; FNY559; Bedford OWB; 17371; Duple; B32F19; FNY612; Bedford OWB; 18158; Duple; B32F20; FNY875; Bedford OWB; 22991; Duple; B32F

No. 7 rebuilt by Longwell Green in 1955.No. 14 rebuilt by Gelligaer UDC in 1955.Nos. 18-20 re-seated to B30F at a later date.Withdrawn 1949 (18), 1950 (20), 1953 (19), 1959 (7), 1960 (14).

1945

21; HB5985; Bedford OWB; 16574; Duple; B32F22; YG7448; Leyland TS6; 4870; Burlingham; B36F

Nos. 21-22 ex-Jones Brothers (Treharris) Ltd, (new 1943 and 1934 respectively). Alsoacquired but not operated was WO6575, a 1932 Dennis Lancet [170224] withWeymann B31R bodywork. No. 21 re-seated to B30F at a later date. No. 22 re-seatedto B34F at a later date.Withdrawn 1950 (21), 1956 (22).


HB5985 was a 1943 Bedford OWB with Duple bodywork that became Gelligaer No. 21 in 1945 with theacquisition of Jones Brothers of Treharris to whom this vehicle was new. (LTHL collection).


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1946

5; FTG846; AEC Regal; 06624189; Harrington; B36F6; FTG977; AEC Regal; 06624190; Harrington; B36F23; FTX175; AEC Regal; 06624788; Duple; DP35F

Nos. 5-6 re-seated to B34F in 1947.No. 23 rebuilt by Gelligaer UDC in 1951 and re-seated with bus seats becomingB35F.Withdrawn 1958 (5), 1962 (6), 1963 (23).

1947

10; GTG293; Leyland PS1/1; 462332; Willowbrook; B35F13;GTG294; Leyland PS1/1; 462331; Willowbrook; B35F24; GTG295; Leyland PS1/1; 462330; Willowbrook; B35F

Nos. 10, 13, 24 rebuilt by Gelligaer UDC between 1953 and 1956 and re-seated toB33F.Withdrawn 1963 (10), 1964 (13, 24).


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1949

9; HTX396; AEC Regent III; 9612A2466; Bruce; L27/26R18; HTX397; AEC Regent III; 9612A2467; Bruce; L27/26R

Withdrawn 1965 (9, 18).

1950

11; KNY453; AEC Regal III; 9612A958; Duple; B35F17; KNY454; AEC Regal III; 9612A959; Duple; B35F20-21; KNY455-456; AEC Regal III; 9612A960-61; Duple; B35F

Nos. 11, 17, 20-21 rebuilt by Gelligaer UDC in 1958 (11) or Longwell Green in 1958-59 (17, 20-21); re-numbered 1-4 respectively in 1966.Withdrawn 1966 (11[1], 20[3], 21[4]), 1967 (17[2]).


No. 17 (KNY454) was a 1950 AEC Regal III with Duple 35-seat bodywork. It was rebuilt by Longwell Greenin 1958 and re-numbered 2 in 1966. It was finally withdrawn in 1967. (John Kaye).


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1951

1; KNY960; Leyland PS1/1; 500246; Duple; B35F8; KNY962; Leyland PS1/1; 500188; Duple; B35F25; KNY963; Leyland PS1/1; 500190; Duple; B35F26; KNY961; Leyland PS1/1; 500182; Duple; B35F

Nos. 1, 8, 25 rebuilt by Gelligaer UDC in 1956-57.No. 26 rebuilt by Longwell Green in 1957.Nos. 1, 8, 25-26 re-numbered 5, 7, 8, 6 respectively in 1966.Withdrawn 1966 (1[5]), 1967 (8[7], 25[8], 26[6]).

1953

3; MTG620; Leyland PD2/10; 530088; Leyland; L27/26R12; MTG883; AEC Regal III; 9621A1553; Longwell Green; B35F19; MTG884; AEC Regal III; 9621A1554; Longwell Green; B35F

No. 3 re-numbered 9 in 1966.Nos. 12, 19 rebuilt by Gelligaer UDC in 1965-66; re-numbered 10-11 in 1966.Withdrawn 1968 (19[11]), 1970 (12[10]), 1971 (3[9]).


No. 9 (MTG620) was a 1953 PD2/10 with Leyland 56-seat lowbridge bodywork. It is seen here on the depotapproach in September 1969. (David Everett courtesy John Kaye).


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1954

2; OTG320; AEC Regal III; 9612A1584; Longwell Green; B35F15; OTG321; AEC Regal III; 9612A1583; Longwell Green; B35F

Nos. 2, 15 re-numbered 12, 13 respectively in 1966.Withdrawn 1967 (2[12], 15[13]).

1955

27-28; RTX965-966; AEC Reliance; MU3RV529-30; Longwell Green; B44F

No. 28 was re-seated to B42F in 1966 but reverted to B44F in 1968.Nos. 27-28 re-numbered 14-15 in 1966.Withdrawn 1970 (27[14], 28[15]).


RTX966 was a 1955 AEC Reliance with Longwell Green 44-seat bodywork. Originally numbered 28 it wasre-numbered 15 in 1966. (John Kaye).


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1957

16; VNY254; AEC Reliance; MU3RV1518; Longwell Green; B44F22; VNY255; AEC Reliance; MU3RV1519; Longwell Green; B44F

No. 22 re-numbered 17 in 1966.Withdrawn 1972 (16, 22[17]).

1958

4-5; YTX61-62; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RV2094-95; Longwell Green; B44F

No. 4 re-seated to B42F in 1966, but reverted to B44F in 1967.Nos. 4-5 re-numbered 18-19 respectively in 1966; to Rhymney Valley District Coun-cil (RVDC) 4/74 (re-numbered 61-62 respectively).

1959

7; 359CTX; Leyland PD2/40; 590478; Longwell Green; L27/28RD

No. 7 was rebuilt by Caerphilly UDC in 1966 and re-numbered 21.Withdrawn 1970 (7[21]).


No. 22 (VNY255), a 1957 AEC Reliance with Longwell Green 44-seat bodywork at Gelligaer depot in 1962.It was re-numbered 17 in 1966 and withdrawn in 1972. (John Kaye).


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1960

14; 751HNY; Leyland PD2/40; 600957; Longwell Green; L27/28RD

No. 14 rebuilt by Caerphilly UDC in 1966-67 and re-numbered 23.Withdrawn 1971 (14[23]).

1961

29; 363MTG; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RV3843; Longwell Green; B44F

No. 29 re-seated to B42F in 1966 but reverted to B44F in 1967; re-numbered 24 in1966; to RVDC 4/74 (re-numbered 63).

1962

6; 643PTX; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RV3954; Longwell Green; B44F30; 644PTX; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RV3955; Longwell Green; B44F

No. 30 re-seated to B42F in 1966 but reverted to B44F in 1968.Nos. 6, 30 re-numbered 25-26 respectively in 1966; to RVDC 4/74 (re-numbered67-68 respectively).


No. 23 (751HNY) was a 1960 Leyland PD2/40 originally with Longwell Green bodywork and numbered 14,but seen here with bodywork rebuilt in 1966 by Caerphilly UDC, when it was also re-numbered. It waswithdrawn in 1971. (John Kaye).


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1963

10; 889UTG; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RV4899; Longwell Green; B44F23; 890UTG; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RV4900; Longwell Green; B44F

Nos. 10, 23 re-numbered 27-28 in 1966; to RVDC 4/74 (re-numbered 89-90 respec-tively).

1964

13; ANY433B; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RA5498; Willowbrook; B45F24; ANY432B; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RA5497; Willowbrook; B45F

Nos. 13, 24 re-seated to B43 in 1966 but reverted to B45F in 1967; re-numbered 30,29 respectively in 1966; to RVDC 4/74 (re-numbered 66, 72 respectively).


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1965

9; ETX388C; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RA5813; Willowbrook; B43F18; ETX389C; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RA5814; Willowbrook; B43F

Nos. 9, 18 re-numbered 31-32 respectively in 1966; re-seated to B45F in 1967; toRVDC 4/74 (re-numbered 88, 65 respectively).

1966

20; TJU686; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RV2126; Duple; B44F22; UJU774; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RV2187; Willowbrook; B45F33-34; LTG733-34D; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RA6536-37; Willowbrook; B42D

Nos. 20, 22 ex-Jones Omnibus Service, Aberbeeg (Nos. 91, 95 respectively, new1959, 1960 respectively).No. 22 to RVDC 4/74 (re-numbered 74).Nos. 33-34 rebuilt to B43F in 1971; re-seated to B45F in 1973; to RVDC 4/74 (re-numbered 76, 73 respectively).Withdrawn 1972 (20).


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1967

35; FGW498C; AEC Swift; MP2R001; Willowbrook; B53F36; STB957C; Leyland PSUR1/1R; L22985; Willowbrook; B53F

No. 35 ex-AEC demonstrator (new 1965); to RVDC 4/74 (re-numbered 49).No. 36 ex-Leyland demonstrator (new 1965).Withdrawn 1972 (36).

1968

37-38; TTX37-38G; AEC Swift; MP2R205-06; Willowbrook; B49D51; PTX451F; Austin LDM30; 81621; Gelligaer UDC; M12

Nos. 37-38 rebuilt to B54F in 1972; to RVDC 4/74 (re-numbered 56-57 respectively).No. 51 was converted from a van body by Gelligaer with perimeter seating; to RVDC4/74 (retaining fleet no. 51).


No. 35 (FGW498C) was a 1965 AEC Swift with Willowbrook 53-seat bodywork. It was an AEC ex-demonstra-tor acquired in 1967. (LTHL collection).


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1971

21; YNY922; Leyland PD2/40; 581705; Massey; L29/28R39-41; BTX539-41J; Bristol VRTSL6G; VRT/SL2/153-55; Northern Counties; H44/33FNo. 21 ex-Caerphilly UDC (No. 22, new 1958).Nos. 39-41 to RVDC 4/74 (re-numbered 53-55).Withdrawn 1972 (21).

1972

20; LKG664; AEC Regent V; D3RV107; Park Royal; L31/28RD23; OTG518; Leyland PSU1/1; 3541306; Massey; B44F42-44; KTX242-44L; Bristol RESL6G; [RESL-8-]384-86; ECW; B47F100; WKG281; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RA3358; Willowbrook; DP41F101; WKG284; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RA3361; Willowbrook; DP41F

Nos. 20, 100-101 ex-Western Welsh Omnibus Company (Nos. 664, 281, 284 respec-tively, new 1956 (664) and 1961 respectively). No. 20 was used as a driver trainingvehicle.No. 23 ex-Caerphilly UDC (No. 8, new 1954).Nos. 42-44, 100-101 to RVDC 4/74 (retaining fleet nos. 42-44 and re-numbered 81,84 respectively).Withdrawn 1972 (23), 1973 (20).


No. 44 (KTX244L) was a 1972 Bristol RESL6G with Eastern Coach Works 47-seat bus bodywork. It passedto Rhymney Valley District Council in 1974 retaining its fleet number. (John Kaye).


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1973

45-47; NKG245-47M; Bristol RESL6G; [RESL-8-]397-99; ECW; DP44F102; DKG887L; Bedford YRQ; CW451553; Duple; C45F103; RTG221M; Bedford YRT; CW456664; Duple; C53F

Nos. 45-47, 103 to RVDC 4/74 (retaining fleet nos. 45-47 and re-numbered 87respectively).Withdrawn 1973 (102).

1974

10; RAX583; AEC Regent V; MD3RV461; Massey; L29/28R

No. 10 ex-Bedwas & Machen UDC (No. 10, new 1957); it retained its Bedwas & Machenlivery whilst with Gelligaer; to RVDC 4/74 (re-numbered 83).


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gelligaer udc 1928-1974

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