Description:
- Registration: B-6983-FU
- Make: Pegaso
- Bodywork: Noge
- Model: 6038 (series 7000-7111). Officially known as Barcelona Bus
- Brought into service: 1983
- Taken out of service: 1999
- Withdrawn from TMB: 2001 (on loan to the Catalan Museum of Transport, Castellar de n'Hug)
- Recovered by TMB: 2006 (became the property of TMB again)
Brief history
At the end of the 1970s, the need to renew the Pegaso 6035 bus fleet and boost public transport led to the creation of a new type of bus, more in line with the city’s needs. In 1978 the 6038 was presented at "Expomòbil 78" with a number of innovations, including a curved windscreen to reduce reflections, special attention to the positioning of controls, anatomical seats, and large windows. This prototype came into service on 31 July 1978 and was test driven until 1980.
In that year, the Pegasus model 6038 finally made its debut. Also referred to as the Barcelona Bus, it had only two doors (front and central) and a more modern style of bodywork. Painted red and cream, the buses had doors with a single panel and a platform with no seats facing the central door. More than 400 of these buses were built between the years 1980 and 1983 their excellent performance is demonstrated by the fact that there are still many in use today in countries such as Cuba, El Salvador, etc., donated by TMB.
Bus no. 7092, which came into service in 1983 (it was registered on 6 July), was built by Enasa using the Pegaso model 6038, the bodywork being completed by Noge in Arbúcies. It belongs to the 7000 series and was used on various lines for nearly two decades. In June 1999 the last 14 vehicles in this series were taken out of service. In 2001, TMB gave this bus, together with no. 7000, to the Catalan Museum of Transport in Castellar de n'Hug. While it was held by the Museum, it was restored and there were plans for its use as an exhibition vehicle. In 2006, when the Museum closed, the bus returned to TMB.
