Amateur Radio WB3GCK QRP to the Field
April 2005

Craig LaBarge, WB3GCK

This year's running of QRP to the Field had a railroad theme -- "Ridin' the Rails."  The thing I like about these "theme" contests is the research I have to do in preparation for the event.  This year, for example, I learned that two buildings I pass almost daily  right here in Phoenixville, Pennsylavania, were once railroad stations.  Unfortunately, they both are now used for commercial purposes.  So, operating there was feasible.  I remembered, though, that nearby Valley Forge National Historical Park actually has two defunct train stations.  

The Valley Forge station, located near the intersection of Route 23 and Route 252,  was built in 1912 to provide visitors to allow visitors to stop at Washington's Headquarters.  The station has been closed since 1970.  The Port Kennedy station, located on the eastern end of the park, was built in 1910.  Passenger service to Port Kennedy ended in 1980.  Somewhere along the way, the sign on the station house was changed to read "Valley Forge Park."

Since the two stations are within a mile or two of each other, I decided to try operating from both.  I operated from the Port Kennedy station for the first few hours then relocated to the Valley Forge station for the remainder of the time.

Having  to relocate during the event, I needed to be able to set up and tear down quickly without taking up a lot of real estate for antennas.  I decided to try operating "stationary mobile."  I used a homebrew, 7-1/2 foot, based-loaded whip antenna that I built a few years ago.  To mount it to my truck, I used one of those vise grip mounts that truckers use to temporarily mount their CB antennas to their side mirrors.  In my case, I clamped it to one of the brackets for the tailgate latch in the bed of the truck.  I could only get the antenna to load up on 20M and up, so I decided to stick to 20M CW for the day.  The rig was a Yaesu FT-817 (running 5 watts) sitting on the passenger seat in the truck.

I had some initial reservations about using this jury-rigged antenna, especially since I had never used it in this configuration.  My first round of CQs were answered by N6IZ in California.  So, that proved that the antenna was good enough to make a few contacts.  Band conditions were a little weak on 20M and both of these stations are located on fairly low ground.  Not to mention that it rained most of the time.  One of the highlights was working fellow EPA-QRPer, Ed WA3WSJ, who had hiked up to the Neversink Mountain Railroad near Reading, PA.

It was interesting to note that each station had a contingent of "rail fans" who wait patiently wait for trains to pass.  Several of them video taped or photographed the trains going by.  I was treated to up-close view of trains passing at each location.

Contest-wise, it wasn't my best showing but it's always fun getting out and operating portable from somewhere.

Visit the National Parks Service's website for more information on Valley Forge National Historical Park.

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On location at Valley Forge
Station
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Antenna mount
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Port Kennedy Station

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Port Kennedy Station
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Valley Forge Station
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Valley Forge Station
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Valley Forge Station
 

Log:

20M - CW
Port Kennedy Station
UTC CALL RST-S RST-R SPC
-----------------------------------
1516 N6IZ 549 449 CA
1519 KD4ORO 559 559 AL
1520 W0OOW 569 559 NE
1523 WA8KNE 569 559 FL
1531 KA5CJJ 579 579 TX
1534 W4OV 599 599 FL
1540 WN1GIV 599 599 FL
1625 WA3WSJ 559 549 PA
1648 W0UFO 459 559 MN
1653 K4THL 559 559 FL
1711 KA0GGI/M 579 539 FL
1714 W9TO 549 579 IL
20M - CW
Valley Forge Station
UTC CALL RST-S RST-R SPC
-----------------------------------
1743 K9EW 559 569 IL
1815 K7TQ 549 539 ID
1839 N2PK 579 559 FL
1841 KG8YT 569 329 MI



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