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This photograph shows the original Duple Roadmaster in all its original glory. New as 899, JWO99, it was exhibited at the 1950 Commercial Motor Show. It was a Leyland Royal Tiger PSU1/15 with Duple C41F body.
When at the show it had a white roof to go with its original red livery but I've not seen a photograph of it in service in that livery - pity as it looked terrific like that. Whilst the skirt trim panels are almost certainly black, I am not sure about the second colour around the waistband. It was renumbered UC151 in 1951 and I believe that is the number it carries here but that isn't clear. The original number was carried near the nearside side lamp.
It was obviously too highly-regarded to ever get demoted to dual-service status and remained classed as a coach until withdrawal in 1966. In later years it didn't look quite so impressive as it was in a pale ivory livery with just a little red trim. It passed to Rhymney Transport on withdrawal, being withdrawn by them in 1969. What a stunning preservation candidate it would have been!

Photographer unknown, now in David Beilby collection, late 1950s, St. Margaret's Coach Station, Cheltenham
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