240 Gardner:
240 Gardner:
That’s absolutely right - some of the 36’ Leopards were reduced to 45 seats, with large luggage pens on each side at the front of the saloon, due to a union agreement about one-man-operation. This would be around 1970-ish. This was most inconvenient when an 11 year old boy, on the way home from school, wanted to sit at the front and watch the driver!They were later reverted to 53 seat
Close scrutiny of one of Ray’s photos shows the absence of the front two rows of seats:
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Yes Chris, These 36ft Leopards with 45 seats were very useful when it was " Wakes Weeks ", at which
time many Wigan people went to Blackpool for their " Wigan Holidays ". It was usual to load about 40
passengers, and their luggage was put in the steel frame area over the front wheels, and some cases
were loaded on and in front of the 4 front seats. Cheers, Ray.