LOGS: → If you wish to receive a personalised certificate celebrating the event please email your logs to bdingle@hotmail.co.uk.
Railways on the air (ROTA) weekend usually 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.
Our 2025 event will run on the weekend of 27th and 28th September.
BARAC has arranged for the special callsign GB200SD to be on the air from 11/9/2025 to 8/10/2025 covering the period of celebration of 200 years since the opening of the Stockton and Darlington railway. We look forward to working you on HF and the analogue and digital modes available through our repeaters at Stanley Crook Village Hall - CD, CY and CZ.
As an additional activity we propose to operate on Extended Freedom Network for the duration so that stations can talk with BARAC and other special event stations to check on activity on the bands. The Extended Freedom Network website will have more details.
The following frequencies for the event are suggested: 3.65, 7.15, 14.25.
GB4YWR
Yorkshire Wolds Railway
GB9WCL
THE WATERCRESS LINE
GB0NTH
Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre (GCR Nottingham)
GB0EOR
Epping & Ongar Railway
GB5RSR
Ribble Steam railway
GB2SDR
Stockton darlington railway