Pontypridd's great island platform (once the longest in the world) is a shadow of what it once was, with several portions disused and a great big bridge ramp parked on the northern end.
Agreed. Still got many of its original features and would be great if more of its buildings were in use. And the signal box.
The waiting room used to be the buffet until the 80s. You can clearly see where the serving area from the kitchen was...the latter now the excess fares ticket office.
There were also outside mens toilets at the south side of the big platform. Look closely in the flagstones and you can see where they were bolted into the ground.
The old station masters office by the grand stairs on the platform one of the now disused buildings...the one to the right of the first exit. The ticket checks used to be done there until the very last train at night. The old guy in there once got me a taxi after I'd missed the last Merthyr train owing to the one from the Rhondda being late.
The entrance at street level also had an adjoining pub and shops plus a subway further down the Broadway.
When in its prime that station must have been awesome. Even when deserted you can sense just how busy it once was. The recent improvements including a new platform 1 adds to the place having a sort of visual history that most valleys stations don't quite retain. Faded grandeur indeed.