A visit to the technical office facilities of Grupo Castrosua leaves no one indifferent. In its display cases, Agustín Gómez – Head of Approvals for the company and General Secretary of Ascabús – houses a large part of the collection of bus and coach models he has gathered over the last three decades. A true treasure. And not only from a sentimental point of view, but also from a purely economic one, as the collection of pieces has a value exceeding 7,000 euros.
Agustín Gómez reveals that his passion for models dates back to childhood. “My father was a bus driver at the Villalón company,” he says, recalling childhood memories in the Ourense town of Maceda. Years later, in 1987, after a long stay in Venezuela and almost by chance, he began working in the commercial department of Castrosua. “When I had the interview, I didn’t know the position offered was for Castrosua because the selection was carried out through a temporary employment agency,” he emphasizes.
First Model
A few months after joining Castrosua, Scania gave him his first model. Although time has left its mark on it, Agustín still keeps it with great care. From then on, his taste for collecting began. Frequently, those who knew him and were aware of this hobby gifted him models of different bus models.
For example, at the University Institute of Automotive Research (INSIA), they gave him one of the pieces he most cherishes. It is a dedicated model of a double-decker Iberia model, which was manufactured in Spain years ago and was known as the “camel”.
Although most of the pieces were gifted to him, Agustín also invested in his hobby and paid for some of them. “Approximately 10% of the models in the collection were purchased,” he indicates. “Some come from limited series, expensive units that exceed 300 euros,” he adds. His collection, of over 200 pieces, is a miniature reflection of the historical evolution of the bus sector. A recreation that will undoubtedly evoke memories for the most nostalgic.
