Railways on the Air
Railways on the air (ROTA) weekend takes place every year on the weekend closest to the 27th September. This date celebrates the anniversary of the first steam powered passenger railway which took place on 27th September 1825 - the first passenger train ran on a line in the North East of England from Darlington to Stockton. Bishop Auckland Amateur Radio Club coordinates this event which, it insists, isn’t a contest, but a way for people interested in railways who are also short-wave listeners or radio amateurs to find out a bit more about the various preserved railways across the UK.
West Shed - Midland Railway Centre (Click to expand)
DWC supports this event mainly because it is fun and we like trains! Besides, if a Derby-based Club can’t put on a radio station when the history of the town and city are steeped in railway history, then there’s no hope!
The Club put on a station in 2011 with our friends at the West Shed, the home of the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust (PRCLT) located within the Midland Railway Centre at Swanwick. We used the club call-sign GX3ERD/P again this year and contacts we made with 27 other radio stations on either 80m or 40m. The bands were in a good shape and it was very busy so whilst trying to work stations we also had visitors to the PRCLT to talk to when they asked what we were doing. All part of the public face of amateur radio– talking to the public, after all they may become radio amateurs or short-wave listeners themselves one day!
A good weekend, nice weather, and a good number of visitors. The only regret is that we were actually inside the West Shed museum so we couldn’t operate outside of their opening hours, but who knows – maybe next year we could be working out of one of the Royal carriages instead!
We couldn’t close by recording our thanks once again to the PRCLT trustees for giving us permission to operate from West Shed, and finally to the people of the Bishop Auckland Amateur Radio Club for organising what is becoming a “must-do”event in the radio amateur calendar.
So, will we be speaking with you over the air next year? Hopefully! Listen out for GX3ERD/P and give us a call!
West ShedThe West Shed is home to the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust - a voluntary charitable organisation formed in 1993 to look after and promote the historic locomotives in its care. In addition to the active locomotive workshop, the West Shed includes museum display areas for a static collection of locomotives and historic railway carriages with interpretive display boards, audio commentary domes and a mini-cinema where you can select a short film to watch. The 'Patrons Club' supports the Trust financially and practically, whilst the Trust operate mainline steam charter trains with the 'Duchess of Sutherland', aided by a dedicated force of volunteers.
