08 – Pegaso 6038 (“Creu Coberta”)
Table of Contents
Basic data
- Current owner: ARCA
- Former owner: Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona nº 6158
- Year: 1981
- Plate: B-3959-EX
- Brand: Pegaso
- Model: 6038
- Bodywork: Irizar
History
- Start of service: 1981 (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona)
- Withdrawal: 2007 (Associació de Comerciants de Creu Coberta)
Since the first Pegaso 6038 was introduced in 1979 by TMB (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona) the model would be a complete success and a popular sight all around Spain, thus becoming the heir of the Pegaso 6035, and sharing with it many technical similarities: the integrated chassis and body structure called Monotral and the arrangement of mechanical elements.
TMB put in servcie 400 units between February 1980 and November (series 6000-6262, 7000-7111, 7300-7324). The preserved arrived towards September 1981 and would be put in service in October on routes 36, 41, 47 and 51. Its fleet number would be 6158, and it was equipped with Wilson gear change and Irizar bodywork. It must be said that many bodybuilders took a part at manufacturing new units(Irizar, Ugarte, Noge, Van-Hool) and subseries can not be clearly defined as far as many units arrived by small groups or isolated.
TMB 6158 spent most of its life at Llevant bus depot and it was refurbished and repainted with a new colour scheme around the date of 9/3/90. At that time it would move to Ponent bus depot where it would stay until the end of its active life. During year 1996 it was sold to the Associació de Comerciants de Creu Coberta (Creu Coberta Shopkeepers Association) where it arrived overhauled and repainted to serve as commercial advertising bus. Since then it has been in service undergoing several modifications: the seat rows were removed and a table, side benches and other auxiliary elements were installed; externally it received all-over advertising which would last until June 2005. This year it was repaired and repainted in a red and white livery close to the 90s TMB colour scheme. It was only superficially restored, however, and the following year (2006) the aspect would be again deplorable: crusts of rust could be spotted everywhere all around the structure, and the attractiveness for which it was conceived was definitively lost.
By the end of 2007 the Shopkeeper’s Association discussed about the continuity of the bus while simultaneously a group of ARCA associates offered themselves to preserve the vehicle. The outcome would be an agreement signed on 29/02/08 by which a cooperation exchange between ARCA and the Associació de Comerciants de Creu Coberta is established, where the former agree to operate the services that the bus fulfilled so far, and the latter donate the vehicle to ARCA for both restoration and preservation while keeping advertising inscriptions making reference to Creu Coberta
Photos
- Original look of a vehicle from this series at about 1982. Photo: unknown (www.autobusesbcn.es)
- Original look of a vehicle from this series at about 1984. Photo: J.A.Solsona (www.autobusesbcn.es)
- Final look of a unit of this series on January 1994. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- TMB 6158 spotted in original form shortly before overhauling. April 1989. Photo: César Ariño
- TMB 6158 pictured with the new livery at Zona Franca bus garage circa 1994 . Photo: Francisco Hernández
- Shortly after being acquired by the Associació de comerciants de Creu Coberta, on January 1997. Photo: Ass.Com.Creu Coberta
- Dashboard. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- The interior in October 2005. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- The interior in October 2005. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- The bus with all-over advertising. February 2005. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- The bus with all-over advertising. February 2005. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- This is the aspect after being repainted on October 2005. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- This is the aspect after being repainted on October 2005. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- The bus of Creu Coberta has participated on a regular basis at the Father Christmas parade taking place during December. Year 2005. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- The vehicle decorated with bags branded with “Creu Coberta, shopping street”, during one of the periods when the street is closed to traffic for celebrations. May 2006. Photo: David Arriola
- During Father Christmas parade of year 2006 the bus would carry illuminations to delight the passers-by. Foto: David Arriola
- Recently, the bus served as platform for the exhibition “Creu Coberta. Descobreix la història” (Discover the history of Creu Coberta). July 2007. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- One view of the interior of the bus during the exhibition “Creu Coberta. Descobreix la història”. July 2007. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- The repainting of year 2005 was not able to stop progressive deterioration of the body, which became obvious towards the end of 2007. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- The structure above the windows has been especially attacked by rust and it will be requiring attention. December 2007. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- The bus of Creu Coberta fulfils the mission of both dynamizing and supporting the borough’s cultural life in cooperation with other associations. Father Christmas parade. December 2005. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- The dance group from the Casal Artesà d’Hostafrancs makes use of the bus from Creu Coberta for its Carnaval parades. February 2005. Photo: Lluís Cuesta
- La colla de “Los Labradores” posa pel fotògraf durant la calvalcada del Pare Noel en desembre de 2005. Foto: Lluís Cuesta