Another Astran question was raised here as well. Just why did Astran and their subbies have so many accidents? There was a time when the wrecks seemed to be everywhere — even one in the middle of H4 though what in the World he found to hit there I have no idea. Also they seemed to have a lot of mechanical issues, even on the Destination Doha they were messing around with trailer brakes first day out. That never happened on any of the 3 big ‘uns that I worked for and neither were there any accidents at all on any of them.
Picture of the H4 one — whatever he hit he did a good job. Anybody know the details?
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All the best to everybody. David.
Hi David; SO glad to see that you are back here. (I have sent you a PM). I read with great interest all of your comments. I’d just like to add my response to the one quoted above. In my book, I have detailed a “selection” of incidents and accidents. The first one was described from 1967 and the last from the 1980’s so thats over a period of 20 years. I did not ask Bob Paul exactly how many accidents his “boys” had but from what I could gather over that 20 year period, there were not that many.
Second; your lovely photo of the Volvo on H4. Contrary to popular belief this was NOT an AStrna truck. Even though it is red/yellow I am led to beleive by different sources that it was being run by WHITE TRUX on internal work. The only Volvo F88’s that Astran had were hired ones from Avis in the early 1970’s. They were plain red 6x2 tractors.
Another Astran question was raised here as well. Just why did Astran and their subbies have so many accidents? There was a time when the wrecks seemed to be everywhere — even one in the middle of H4 though what in the World he found to hit there I have no idea. Also they seemed to have a lot of mechanical issues, even on the Destination Doha they were messing around with trailer brakes first day out. That never happened on any of the 3 big ‘uns that I worked for and neither were there any accidents at all on any of them.
Picture of the H4 one — whatever he hit he did a good job. Anybody know the details?
0
All the best to everybody. David.
Hi David; SO glad to see that you are back here. (I have sent you a PM). I read with great interest all of your comments. I’d just like to add my response to the one quoted above. In my book, I have detailed a “selection” of incidents and accidents. The first one was described from 1967 and the last from the 1980’s so thats over a period of 20 years. I did not ask Bob Paul exactly how many accidents his “boys” had but from what I could gather over that 20 year period, there were not that many.
Second; your lovely photo of the Volvo on H4. Contrary to popular belief this was NOT an AStrna truck. Even though it is red/yellow I am led to beleive by different sources that it was being run by WHITE TRUX on internal work. The only Volvo F88’s that Astran had were hired ones from Avis in the early 1970’s. They were plain red 6x2 tractors.
All the best David; Regards ASH
Theres a pic in your book of one in Astrans colours - its got Astran on the headboard.
Got a fire underneath to thaw the filters.
Looking at the pictures of Wellams’ DAFs a couple of pages back,i think one of the destinations written on the trailer is ‘India’.
Did many,if any,UK trucks go out this far?
just stepping in, thought these may be of interest; Budapest to Teheran with Hungarocamion in 1974.
Documentary or instruction video.
Ignore the commentary in kurvajol hotentotish and enjoy F89, cobbled YU roads, down Bolu, up Tahir, crashes, camion cuisine…
HomoFaber:
just stepping in, thought these may be of interest; Budapest to Teheran with Hungarocamion in 1974.
Documentary or instruction video.
Ignore the commentary in kurvajol hotentotish and enjoy F89, cobbled YU roads, down Bolu, up Tahir, crashes, camion cuisine…
HomoFaber:
just stepping in, thought these may be of interest; Budapest to Teheran with Hungarocamion in 1974.
Documentary or instruction video.
Ignore the commentary in kurvajol hotentotish and enjoy F89, cobbled YU roads, down Bolu, up Tahir, crashes, camion cuisine…
The Raba driver, he of the hat and shades, is a bit Jack the Lad though isn’t he?. A lover of the white line I’ glad I never met him in the tunnels in Yugo!
sinbin31, M&C Jamie and Archie Paice . It’s strange isn’t it? Pat was the Animal on Simons when I first met him and to us he always was. It’s not a question of right or wrong just indicative of how separate we were in our little company groups in those days. For example I was just amazed to read here that people called Alan Warner ‘Pops’. Anyone less like a ‘Pops’ I cannot imagine; ‘Ugly B***ard’, yes; ‘Bare Knuckle Fighter’ (which he had been), yes; ‘Hyperactive’, yes; ‘Wind-up Merchant’, yes but POPS■■? Still, as I say, it’s not a case of right or wrong it’s just the way it was. Though I have full sympathy, though, for whoever regarded Alan as his Pops!
Ashley. Good to hear from you too mate. I’m not arguing for a moment but it is my recollection that the wreck on H4 had Astran on the Hatcher Headboard before it was stolen. Also it had been there, it seems to me, since my first trip across the golden sands and I do not think that Whites had been to Saudi that early — though I may be wrong and often am.
The Raba driver, he of the hat and shades, is a bit Jack the Lad though isn’t he?. A lover of the white line I’ glad I never met him in the tunnels in Yugo!
There is another film worth seeing, if only to ask yourself ‘How the *** did he manage that’. youtube.com/watch?v=eX4GJzNJ … re=related It seems to be brought to us by The Eastern European Professional Drives Association.
david i thought for a minute that was gingek jeffs turkish sprayer but i dont think so, if you look at ians pic of the old 240 88 with rinty the guard dog up in stoke gingek sprayed that one jeff got the paint from derek trotter! regards paul
You say u are not dissagreeing with what other people have written but you are ,I just made a statement that I had never heard of Pat Seals being called the Animal,and why should he be called that more like a lamb in a woolly coat and braces, the kind helpfull guy he was,whos life was cut short ,and whoes interests in old Volvo,s was the same as mine ,having owned and run the same truck for 17 years,and I also knew Alan Warner ,who was very fond of 2stroke engines that had that zing of revolutions ,I could rant on forever but Im to old now and just like the peaceful life,
David Miller:
Ashley. Good to hear from you too mate. I’m not arguing for a moment but it is my recollection that the wreck on H4 had Astran on the Hatcher Headboard before it was stolen. Also it had been there, it seems to me, since my first trip across the golden sands and I do not think that Whites had been to Saudi that early — though I may be wrong and often am.
David
Compromise; I never knew that Astran was written in the headboard. I would say that it had probably been ‘sold on’ by the hire co and then resprayed and then the accident occured. When I was researching for the book, I was very curious about the Volvo so I showed Bob Paul the photo in question and he was adamant that it was not his truck. He detested the stripey bumper! Who knows?..and I wonder if there is anyone out there who does know something about it to put us both out of our misery Speak soon; Ash.
Hi gavin, i had to crease up at the reply, to your answer, of who was in davids photo repairing the puncture. it goes to show once more the difference in humour with different cultures. gule gule and regards jamie
Speak soon; Ash.