Yes GS! I reckon you’re right about Salalah. Frank told me himself that he was the only one, but as you suggest he may have been the only one at that particular time. As for the ‘tank farm’, I did visit once to diesel up as it was a better rate than the Shell garage in the town. Cheers, Robert 
My Dad only did a year on M/E and always went on the Ferry Kopa to Tartous ( hope I got the spelling right) ,Anyway just found a old photo album with some more M/E photos , I have put some on before from the Ferry . My question to you guys who did this regularly can you tell me more about the photo also the name J.Collins is also the back of one but that’s it . look forward to some replys
robert1952:
Yes GS! I reckon you’re right about Salalah. Frank told me himself that he was the only one, but as you suggest he may have been the only one at that particular time. As for the ‘tank farm’, I did visit once to diesel up as it was a better rate than the Shell garage in the town. Cheers, Robert
Ha ha… Yes Robert, thats because Musin used to nick the diesel that we used to leave there for the way back !!
Hi GS overland would you please explain to me what is ment by dropping the belly tank off at the tank farm, and what for, i never went any where near to the middle east in a truck so i am intrigued. pdb
So sorry to learn of the passing of a dear old veteran Archie Paice - RIP my friend - condolences to the family
peggydeckboy:
Hi GS overland would you please explain to me what is ment by dropping the belly tank off at the tank farm, and what for, i never went any where near to the middle east in a truck so i am intrigued. pdb
Hi PDB
Belly tanks were not allowed in Saudi during my time on the Middle East so we used to have them removed at the tankfarm which was a place in the village of Taspinar, just South of Aksaray in Turkey. It was a fabrication workshop where everything could be welded back on and they built fantastic high quality big fuel tanks, trailer boxes, bullbars etc…best fabricators in Turkey. Any diesel in the bellytank would be pumped out into 45gal drums and later in to specially made tanks with padlocks, and the lads would then undo the straps and lower the bellytank down on to the ground with trolely jacks. The belly tank would be collected and re-fitted on the way home. It was important to know how much squirt was required to get to the exit border either in to Iraq or Syria.
Diesel was very expensive in Turkey in those days so to avoid buying it was a must. Ask Robert ! 
GS
freshir:
So sorry to learn of the passing of a dear old veteran Archie Paice - RIP my friend - condolences to the family
Sad news indeed. Have a safe trip Archie…RIP. TIR.
GS
GS OVERLAND:
peggydeckboy:
Hi GS overland would you please explain to me what is ment by dropping the belly tank off at the tank farm, and what for, i never went any where near to the middle east in a truck so i am intrigued. pdbHi PDB
Belly tanks were not allowed in Saudi during my time on the Middle East so we used to have them removed at the tankfarm which was a place in the village of Taspinar, just South of Aksaray in Turkey. It was a fabrication workshop where everything could be welded back on and they built fantastic high quality big fuel tanks, trailer boxes, bullbars etc…best fabricators in Turkey. Any diesel in the bellytank would be pumped out into 45gal drums and later in to specially made tanks with padlocks, and the lads would then undo the straps and lower the bellytank down on to the ground with trolely jacks. The belly tank would be collected and re-fitted on the way home. It was important to know how much squirt was required to get to the exit border either in to Iraq or Syria.
Diesel was very expensive in Turkey in those days so to avoid buying it was a must. Ask Robert !
GS
GS is right, of course. The last time I ran down with a belly-tank was as late as 2001, by which they had become a bit of a liability in ANY country, so it was removed. That didn’t stop me sneaking full running tanks out of Syria though, at great risk! By that time Turkish diesel was over ten times more expensive then Syrian diesel IIRC.
Here’s a nice picture of generous belly tank. Robert
GS OVERLAND:
freshir:
So sorry to learn of the passing of a dear old veteran Archie Paice - RIP my friend - condolences to the familySad news indeed. Have a safe trip Archie…RIP. TIR.
GS
I would like to add my condolences too. Only met him once. Lovely bloke. Robert
Having a top up = don’t remember where, the old memory is not what it was - probably Hammersmith Broadway
Astran in Gürbulak 1975
orientmack:
Astran in Gürbulak 1975
Well-spotted! Robert
Astran followers might like to know that a former Astran driver, John Holland, has recently placed some excellent pictures on the Middle East Drivers thread. Here’s the link:
Robert
Thank you GSOVERLAND and ROBERT another wonder why,! i can put to bed.
TruckblogUK often has some really good material on its site. Here is a recent pic that I’ve unashamedly ‘borrowed’ from it. Robert
Found these when looking for something else. Probably been posted before.
A few more. From memory the f89 brakes were on fire coming down the mountain road in the
documentary.
Brilliant pics - well worth a mention - thanks
The first eleven of DEANB’s pics appear to be ‘stills’ from the film, Destination Doha. 
Robert
