C648 FTT

C648 FTT is/was an MCW Metroliner double-decker bus briefly operated by Sega for its annual tours in the United Kingdom during the early 1990s.

Vehicle History

C648 FTT is/was an MCW Metroliner, with a MCW CH57/15FT body. Large parts of the history of this bus are something of a mystery: unlike Sega's other two buses, JOV 750P and RCH 280R, it has no publically visible records on the UK's DVLA database.

It was built some time between August 1985 and July 1986, and registered in Exeter, Devon. It was bought by the bus company North Devon, who gave it the fleet number 1418, and operated it under the banner of "North Devon Expressway", which seems to have been absorbed into the National Express fleet by 1989 and sub-branded under "Red Bus". It was moved to National Express's route 502: "Westward Ho!", which operates between North Devon and London.

The earliest known appearance of the bus for Sega was at the 1993 European Grand Prix with the other two Sega buses, JOV 750P and RCH 280R. It is known to have been at Humberside Airport in July 1993, and later at Longleat Safari Park in May 1995 for the second Sega in 2 Action! Tour, heavily promoting the then-new Mega Drive 32X.

After this the trail becomes hazy - the final fate of the bus is currently unknown for certain.

Images

In an unknown yard in October 1986, in North Devon Expressway livery.

In a bus station, in North Devon Expressway livery.

In Taunton Bus Station on 14 August 1989, bound for Westward Ho!

In National Express "Red Bus" livery, operating the 502 Westward Ho! route.

At the 1993 European Grand Prix (in the centre) with its fellow buses and an F1 car.

At the 1993 European Grand Prix (on the right).

In 2 Action! Tour, 1994 (bottom right image)

Promoting the Mega Drive 32X at Longleat Safari Park, May 1995 (left side of bus).

Promoting the Mega Drive 32X at Longleat Safari Park, May 1995 (right side of bus).