ROTA 2023

Railways QSL Card

Introduction

The Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust are based at the former Midsomer Norton South Railway Station. The postal address is Midsomer Norton Station, Silver Street, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2EY. However, there are some specific details that will be of interest to radio hams:

  • Lat/Long (WGS84 Geoid): 51.280684°N, 2.483002°W
  • OSGR: ST 66408 53616 (6 figure ST664536)
  • IARU: IO81sg
  • WAB: ST65 – England
  • IOTA: EU005 (UK Mainland)
  • What 3 Words: ///puts.encloses.bathtubs (Operating Post Entrance)
  • What 3 Words: ///iteration.native.lightly (Site Entrance)

Location

Operation

And so we come to the close of our Special Event season with our oldest and possibly our favourite event, Railways on the Air. We’ve had a few changes over the years in our operation mainly as a result of changing the operating location.

Over the years we have operated from the “down” platform, from a Mk II carriage that formed the volunteers office/briefing and training space, from the buffet car and this year we were back in an older half goods carriage.

Mark M0SKV Operating with Andy G7KNA LoggingAndy G7KNA Logging with Craig Z21LX Observing

This location is actually very good for us, we were connected to the buffet car alongside the patio area on one of the marshalling sidings. The carriage itself has a large open “goods” area that we can set up more or less how we want with access to power and suitable windows to bring feeders through.

Our equipment was more or less the same as we usually use, except that on the Saturday we used a Kenwood TS2000X in place of the Club’s Yaesu FT991. A member had, literally the day before, upgraded their rig to the Kenwood and this was to be a good “field test”. Spoiler alert, the rig performed flawlessly.

Support to our 80m Doublet Antenna

The Saturday was quite light on attendance, with just Mark M0SKV and Andy G7KNA present during the setup and initial operations.

After setting everything up Mark M0SKV did the usual test of listening around the bands, we came across our first contact Dean G0UIL who helped us fine tune our audio to ensure we were putting out a clean and intelligible signal. Thank you Dean for your help seting up the new rig. Once we were sure of our setup we started operating in earnest.

Rolling StockDMU Train Rides

Things opened with GB0HBR on the Holyhead Breakwater Railway. We then proceeded to work a number of Amateur Radio stations in England and Wales including Whitwell and Reepham Railway Station, Gartell Light Railway, the Watercress Line and the Southwold Railway Trust before getting our first overseas contact into the Netherlands.

In total on the Saturday we made 51 contacts including 10 other Railways on the Air Sprecial Events and the countries of: England, Wales, Netherlands and France.

The approach to our Operating Post

On Sunday Mark M0SKV and Andy G7KNA were joined, in no particular order, by Ken M7MYU who was responsible for most of the photographs and Craig Z21LX. The Kenwood TS2000X was replaced by the Club’s usual FT991 and the room was slightly re-arranged to improve operating conditions.

Things resumed fairly similarly to the previous day, we were earlier on air than on the Saturday because the antenna had been left in-situ overnight and we didn’t have to set the transceiver up! We added Scotland and Eire (Southern Ireland) to the countries worked list as well as Northern Ireland through the Mid-Ulster Radio Club leaving only the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey and the Isle of Man in the RSL’s list.

Platforms on Train Operating DayPrevious Operating Positions

We snagged Belgium for the last new country this operation in the early afternoon before calling it a day around 14:30 having worked 73 stations during the day.

Midsomer Norton South Signal BoxStation Sign Board

Map of Participating Stations Worked

GB2SDR Log

Date (UTC) Time (UTC) Station Worked Band or Freq (MHz) Mode Sent Received Operator’s Name QTH IARU Locator Dist (km) Notes
RST No. RST No.
23/09/23 10:49 G0UIL 40m SSB 59   59   Dean Taunton      
23/09/23 11:18 GB0HBR 40m SSB 59   59   Kath Holyhead Breakwater Railway     Operated by Holy Island Amateur Radio Club
23/09/23 11:30 G3PGA 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Fremington North Devon      
23/09/23 11:30 G0VXM 40m SSB 59   59   Greg West Yorkshire     Icom 7700 Inverted Vee Dipole
23/09/23 11:34 GW1SXT 40m SSB 41       Mike Pontypool      
23/09/23 11:36 GB2MGN 40m SSB 59   59   Linda Whitwell And Reepham Railway Station     Operated by Bittern DX Group Railway opened 1882 50 years since closeure this week
23/09/23 11:48 G6NYG 40m SSB 59   59   Roy Droitwich      
23/09/23 11:52 MW0TSU 40m SSB 59   59     Cambrian Mountains      
23/09/23 11:55 G0DJQ 40m SSB 59       Mark Ashbourne Derbyshire     TS990
23/09/23 11:57 GB0GLR 40m SSB 59   59   Carlo Gartell Light Railway IO80TX   Operated by Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio Society ST65 – IO80TX
23/09/23 11:59 2E0FEH 40m SSB 59   59   Karl Cornwall      
23/09/23 12:00 M0ICR 40m SSB 59   59   Carl North West London      
23/09/23 12:01 M0FRH 40m SSB 57   58   Ian Littlehampton      
23/09/23 12:03 GB2MHR 40m SSB 59   59   Peter The Watercress Line     Operated by Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club G5RV Waiting Room Rockly Station
23/09/23 12:06 GB2SRT 40m SSB 57   58   Richard Southwold Railway Trust     Operated by Lowestoft District and Pye Amateur Radio Club
23/09/23 12:09 PA1PXL 40m SSB 58   59   Richard Meljel SE Netherlands      
23/09/23 12:11 G0GWY 40m SSB 59   59   Geoff Scunthorpe     WAB SE90
23/09/23 12:13 G6TSJ 40m SSB 59   59   Phil Buckingham     WAB SP73
23/09/23 12:15 2E0MTR 40m SSB 57   59   Mike Hawkstone SE Kent      
23/09/23 12:17 G3VHH 40m SSB 58   59   John Langley     100W G5RV
23/09/23 12:19 G0UQT 40m SSB 54       Steve Bridgwater      
23/09/23 12:23 G0FVH 40m SSB 59   59   David Poole      
23/09/23 12:24 GB6RHD/P 40m SSB 57   57   Patrick Dimchurch Railway      
23/09/23 12:27 GB0WRH 40m SSB 56       Dave Whitrope Heritage Center     Operated by Galashiels and District Amateur Radio Society
23/09/23 12:32 GX3WTP 40m SSB 59       Glenn Ravensden (north of Bedford)     Home call G0GBI
23/09/23 12:36 G0DTX 40m SSB 59   59   John        
23/09/23 12:39 M0FAR 40m SSB 59   59            
23/09/23 12:40 2E0XNL 40m SSB 59   59   Bert        
23/09/23 12:43 G0EUZ 40m SSB 58   58   Rod        
23/09/23 12:45 M0PBR 40m SSB 59   59   Peter        
23/09/23 12:48 GB5RSR 40m SSB 59   59   Peter Ribble Steam Railway     Operated by Central Lancs Amateur Radio Club
23/09/23 12:50 M0XLT 40m SSB 56   58   Kevin Yorkshire Dales      
23/09/23 12:51 G4HQX 40m SSB 59   59   Pete        
23/09/23 12:53 M7BCN 40m SSB 57   59   Brian Teeside      
23/09/23 12:57 G0BPK 40m SSB 59   59   Nigel        
23/09/23 13:02 M0AWB 40m SSB 59   59   Tony        
23/09/23 13:03 PD2LM 40m SSB 59   59   Lauw        
23/09/23 13:05 G6PFC 40m SSB 59   59   Paul Norfolk      
23/09/23 13:08 G8BSP 40m SSB 59   59   Alan Shaftsbury      
23/09/23 13:11 M0KGC 40m SSB 58   58   Phil Hampshire      
23/09/23 13:16 M0DFW 40m SSB 59   59   Dave Cambridge      
23/09/23 13:23 M0PTZ 40m SSB 59   59   Paul hampshire      
23/09/23 13:24 GB1FLR 40m SSB 59   59   Ian Foxfield Light Railway     Operated by Moorlands and District ARS
23/09/23 13:26 G3KAG 40m SSB 59   59   Tony        
23/09/23 13:30 M7TRM 40m SSB 55   57   Steve Berkshire      
23/09/23 13:32 G4HEC 40m SSB 59   59   Paul Dorset      
23/09/23 13:38 M0VIE 40m SSB 59   59   Kevin        
23/09/23 13:39 GB0AVR 40m SSB 59   59   Matt Avon Valley Railway     Operated by North Bristol ARC
23/09/23 13:42 G0AXC 40m SSB 59   59   Bob Sidmouth      
23/09/23 13:45 G4ACS 40m SSB 57   59   Geoff Kinver      
23/09/23 13:46 F4VPL 40m SSB 59   59   Dave Southern Brittany      
24/09/23 09:21 G7RFO 40m SSB 56   57   Rob        
24/09/23 09:54 M0PWC 40m SSB 59   59   Paul Stoke on Trent      
24/09/23 10:02 MM0JTV 40m SSB 57   58   John Glasgow      
24/09/23 10:04 G0UQY 40m SSB         Preston W Sussex      
24/09/23 10:05 G2BKZ 40m SSB 59       Rob Stevenage      
24/09/23 10:07 G0KZH 40m SSB 59   59   Elaine Rochdale      
24/09/23 10:09 F5EO 40m SSB 59   59   Jean-Paul Brittany      
24/09/23 10:12 G4ZTQ 40m SSB 59   59   John Chichester     WAB: SU82
24/09/23 10:16 EI2JHB 40m SSB 56   56   Leonard NW Ireland      
24/09/23 10:18 2E0IHS 40m SSB 59   59   Gary Reading     50W multiband end fed59
24/09/23 10:20 G0JNJ 40m SSB 59   59   Alan Macclesfield     WAB SJ97
24/09/23 10:23 GM4BRB 40m SSB 59   58   Grahame Dumfries     WAB NX86
24/09/23 10:26 M1CBK 40m SSB 59   59   Rob Erith North Kent<     Inverted vee double bazooka TS890 + amplifier
24/09/23 10:29 G0JNT 40m SSB 59   59   Les Grimsby      
24/09/23 10:30 M1AOB 40m SSB 59   59   Richard Holsworthy      
24/09/23 10:32 G6ASK 40m SSB 59   59   Jon Exmoor      
24/09/23 10:35 PD2GCM/M 40m SSB 58   59   Gerard Rotterdam     Yaesu FT710 monoband Diamond antenna 100W
24/09/23 10:40 GB0NTH 40m SSB 59   59   Stefan Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre (Gcr Nottingham)     Operated by Nunsfield House ARG
24/09/23 10:44 M7BUE 40m SSB 59   59   Ian Stoke on Trent      
24/09/23 10:49 M0JXN/P 40m SSB 57       Paul        
24/09/23 10:52 G4SUA/P 40m SSB 54   59   Brian Stanstead     QRP 10 W
24/09/23 10:57 G0IYT 40m SSB 58   59   Colin Blackpool     QRP FT817 5W multi-band end fed
24/09/23 11:00 G4RWI 40m SSB 56   59   Nigel Cambridge     IC705 10W end fed motorhome
24/09/23 11:02 G0CNN 40m SSB 59   59   Ian Darlington      
24/09/23 11:03 G6JMX 40m SSB 59   59            
24/09/23 11:06 G0ZXW 40m SSB 58       Mike Eastbourne     IC7300 50W Half size G5RV
24/09/23 11:11 G3PGA 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Fremington North Devon     FTDX101D M100 microphone
24/09/23 11:13 2W0LPU/P 40m SSB 59   59   Lee Brecon      
24/09/23 11:16 GW4ROV 40m SSB 59   59   Philip        
24/09/23 11:20 MN0MZH 40m SSB 58   57   William Downpatrick And County Down Railway Museum     Operated by Mid Ulster arc Mid-Ulster ARC
24/09/23 11:25 G0NGE 40m SSB 59   59   Bill Leyland      
24/09/23 11:32 EI5DD 40m SSB 59   59   Steve Galway      
24/09/23 11:35 EI2JIB/P 40m SSB 55   57   Peter South of Dublin      
24/09/23 11:37 G0WWD 40m SSB 57   59   Dave Newton Abbot      
24/09/23 11:45 GB1WHR 40m SSB 59   59   Simon Welsh Highland Heritage Railway     Operated by Wales Digital Radio Group
24/09/23 11:45 G4ZOD 40m SSB 59   58   Julian North London      
24/09/23 11:48 EI3GB 40m SSB 57   59   Robbie Cork      
24/09/23 11:50 G7UWA 40m SSB 57   58   Terry   JQ02UK    
24/09/23 11:52 MM0RKN/P 40m SSB 56   57   Carrie Edinburgh      
24/09/23 11:56 2E0EVM 40m SSB 59   59   Eddie Paignton      
24/09/23 11:59 2E0NCD 40m SSB 58   58   Nick Salisbury      
24/09/23 12:02 PD4WG/P 40m SSB 57   57     Warner      
24/09/23 12:04 G6YWL 40m SSB 59   59   Tony Wolverhampton      
24/09/23 12:05 M0TPT 40m SSB 59   59   David St Albans      
24/09/23 12:06 M6YDZ 40m SSB 58   59   Mark Wantage      
24/09/23 12:08 2E0HGT 40m SSB 58   59   Allan        
24/09/23 12:10 2E1HYD 40m SSB 59   59   Tony Leeds      
24/09/23 12:13 G3UYN 40m SSB 59   59   Cliff Cornwall      
24/09/23 12:15 G0WWD 40m SSB 59   58   Dave Newton Abbot      
24/09/23 12:18 G4ZWA 40m SSB 59   59   George Lincolnshire      
24/09/23 12:20 G4RAE 40m SSB 59   59   Rex Bristol      
24/09/23 12:23 MX0KBS/P 40m SSB 58   59   Lee Wakefield     Kite Antenna
24/09/23 12:27 M0MCY 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Coalville      
24/09/23 12:28 G0CDB 40m SSB 57   59   John Paignton      
24/09/23 12:30 M0EYG 40m SSB 59   59   Mark        
24/09/23 12:32 G4UNB 40m SSB 58   59   David NE Lancashire      
24/09/23 12:35 G7SXR 40m SSB 59   59   Mark Leeds      
24/09/23 12:37 GB0RVR 40m SSB 59   59   Phil Rother Valley Railway     Operated by Brede Steam ARS Robert Valley Railway
24/09/23 12:39 2E0KHI 40m SSB 55   59   Keith Liverpool      
24/09/23 12:42 MW0UTT 40m SSB 57   59   Colin        
24/09/23 12:44 M0JCE 40m SSB 59   59   Julian Sand Bay      
24/09/23 12:52 M7EIN 40m SSB 57   59   Phil Derby      
24/09/23 12:57 ON4BAR 40m SSB 58   59   Nico SW Belgium      
24/09/23 12:59 2E0HHT 40m SSB 58   59   Bob Horwich      
24/09/23 13:03 F4VPL 40m SSB 59   59            
24/09/23 13:05 MW0IDT 40m SSB 59   59   Ian Cardiff      
24/09/23 13:08 GB2MHR 40m SSB 59   59   Adrian The Watercress Line     Operated by Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club Watercress Line
24/09/23 13:13 M6NSI 40m SSB 59   59   Kevin Chester      
24/09/23 13:16 2E0OCR 40m SSB 59   59   Patrick Broadstairs      
24/09/23 13:21 GB2EVR 40m SSB 57   59   Matt Eden Valley Railway     Operated by Mike Butler
24/09/23 13:26 G0BFJ 40m SSB 59   59   Brian Huddersfield      
24/09/23 13:29 G7MBH 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Durham      
24/09/23 13:32 G7JTZ 40m SSB 59   59   Bob Norwich      

10 Year RSL Tracker (2014 – 2023)

The Regional Secondary Locators (RSLs) are optional (except in the case of Intermediate Licences commencing with a 2 when they are mandatory) letters altered or added to an individual or club amateur radio callsign to denote which part of the United Kingdom the station is operating from, the map and table below indicate the principles:

Location Foundation Callsigns Intermediate Callsigns Full Callsigns Club Callsigns Special Event Callsigns
England M#☐☐☐ 2E#☐☐☐ G#☐☐☐
M#☐☐☐		 GX#☐☐☐
MX#☐☐☐		 GB#☐☐☐

Typically Special Event Callsigns are of the form GB + 1 Number (0-9) and 3 letters.
However, Special Special Event Callsigns can have 1, 2, 3 or even 4 letters after 1, 2 or even 3 digits following the “GB” prefix depending on:
1. Ofcoms disposition,
2. Who you ask,
3. Who you know, and
4. How much “clout” you can bring to bear.
Guernsey MU#☐☐☐ 2U#☐☐☐ GU#☐☐☐
MU#☐☐☐		 GP#☐☐☐
MP#☐☐☐
Isle of Man MD#☐☐☐ 2D#☐☐☐ GD#☐☐☐
MD#☐☐☐		 GT#☐☐☐
MT#☐☐☐
Jersey MJ#☐☐☐ 2J#☐☐☐ GJ#☐☐☐
MJ#☐☐☐		 GH#☐☐☐
MH#☐☐☐
Northern Ireland MI#☐☐☐ 2I#☐☐☐ GI#☐☐☐
MI#☐☐☐		 GN#☐☐☐
MN#☐☐☐
Scotland MM#☐☐☐ 2M#☐☐☐ GM#☐☐☐
MM#☐☐☐		 GS#☐☐☐
MS#☐☐☐
Wales MW#☐☐☐ 2W#☐☐☐ GW#☐☐☐
MW#☐☐☐		 GC#☐☐☐
MC#☐☐☐
Map of RSL's

We have long harboured the ambition to work all RSL’s on a single Special Event or contest but have yet to manage this (although we have come close on a few occasions). We didn’t manage it again this time either, but we live in hope!

  2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
 
A
o
t
A
 		 England                   ☑
Guernsey                   ☐
Isle of Man                   ☐
Jersey                   ☐
Northern Ireland                   ☑
Scotland                   ☑
Wales                   ☑
 
 
M
o
t
A
 		 England ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑     ☑ ☑
Guernsey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐     ☑ ☐
Isle of Man ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐     ☑ ☐
Jersey ☐ ☐ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☐     ☐ ☐
Northern Ireland ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐     ☑ ☑
Scotland ☐ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐     ☑ ☐
Wales ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑     ☑ ☑
 
 
V
H
F
 
F
D
 		 England ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑   ☑   ☑
Guernsey ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑   ☐   ☑
Isle of Man ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☑ ☐   ☐   ☑
Jersey ☐ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐   ☑   ☐
Northern Ireland ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☑ ☐   ☐   ☐
Scotland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑   ☑   ☑
Wales ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑   ☑   ☑
 
 
I
L
L
W
 		 England ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑   ☑ ☑ ☑
Guernsey ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐   ☐ ☑ ☐
Isle of Man ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐   ☑ ☑ ☑
Jersey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐   ☐ ☐ ☐
Northern Ireland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑   ☑ ☑ ☑
Scotland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑   ☑ ☑ ☑
Wales ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑   ☑ ☑ ☑
 
 
R
o
t
A
 		 England ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑
Guernsey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Isle of Man ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Jersey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Northern Ireland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☑
Scotland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☑
Wales ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑
 
 
I
n
 
Y
e
a
r
 		 England ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑
Guernsey ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☑ ☑
Isle of Man ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☑
Jersey ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☑ ☐ ☐
Northern Ireland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☑
Scotland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☑
Wales ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑