Western Massachusetts Rail-Ham Friendly Repeaters

[HampshireCountyHelyon]

Rail-Hams (and rail fans), if you are in the Western Massachusetts area to visit the East Deerfield Rail yard, the famous Palmer "Double Diamond" profiled in Kalmbach's Guide to North American Railroad Hot Spots by TRAINS Senior Editor J. David Ingles, the world famous Hoosic Tunnel, or any number of great Rail-Ham freindly locations in W. Mass. Then you'll want to know about a group of Rail-Ham friendly, open repeater systems owned by KD1XP (himself a rail fan).

The repeater information is as follows:

The primary Rail-Ham repeaters are UHF, and are comprised of a linked pair of repeaters.
1) 442.200 (+) PL 173.8 Amherst, Ma.
2) 443.450 (+) PL 173.8 Deerfield, Ma.
The call-sign for the above listed repeaters is KD1XP.

The next two repeaters are less Rail-Ham oriented; however, Rail-Ham activities are not discouraged there. One repeater is VHF and the other is HF. Their information is as follows:
1) 145.130 (-) PL 173.8 Deerfield, Ma.
2) 53.350 (-) PL 71.9 Florence, Ma.
The call-sign for the above listed repeaters is KB1NTK and are owned by KD1XP.

If you’re planning a trip to this area, you can get in on the local rail-talk and get a heads-up on what to expect by clicking on this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Franklin_Hampshire_County_Scanning or by visiting KD1XP’s website http://www.kd1xp.org

.

[EDFLD-Bill]

Hi Rich,

Can't wait to talk trains on the system! It's about time we had such a network in this area. Good Work!

EDFLD-Bill

[Ward-29C]

To Rich - N1KXR,
Thanks for the heads up. You're right; Rich - KD1XP has a great repeater system out in W. Mass. The 443.450 machine is on a site that all but looks over the East Deerfield Rail yard. When you're at the repeater site, you can actually hear the engine's horns as they are maneuvering around the yard.

To EDFLD-Bill,
Congratulations to you! Heard you just go your own Ham ticket! Another Rail-fan becomes a Rail-Ham..

---
To The Moderators,
Would you please make this sticky, Rail-Hams will find these repeater systems most useful when they are in the area. These are open repeaters and many local Rail-Hams can be found there. Thanks.

[HampshireCountyHelyon]

Ward-29C,

Your welcome! But thanks really have to go out to the other Rich - KD1XP for putting up the systems.

Thanks to you, for asking the moderators to please make this thread a sticky.

Rich - N1KXR

Originally Posted by Ward-29C

To Rich - N1KXR,
Thanks for the heads up. You're right; Rich - KD1XP has a great repeater system out in W. Mass. The 443.450 machine is on a site that all but looks over the East Deerfield Rail yard. When you're at the repeater site, you can actually hear the engine's horns as they are maneuvering around the yard.

[Ward-29C]

I noted that Rich - KD1XP has updated his web page, it's even more Rail-Ham friendly, as are his repeaters. Gotta love that guy.

Even if this thread never gets to be a sticky, at least I see from the count it's being read. It'll be cool when a visiting Rail-Ham gets on one of Rich's repeaters and makes it known he heard about here on RR.

Originally Posted by HampshireCountyHelyon

Ward-29C,

Your welcome! But thanks really have to go out to the other Rich - KD1XP for putting up the systems.

Thanks to you, for asking the moderators to please make this thread a sticky.

Rich - N1KXR

[HampshireCountyHelyon]

KD1XP just expanded and improved the coverage and accessibility of his repeaters. He's linked the UHF and the VHF repeaters as of this past weekend.

Before, one had to change bands if you got out of the range of the machine(s) you were on. Now, as one moves around the various Rail-Ham viewing locations and/or are train chasing, you not only can switch repeaters, but switch bands as well. All while keeping in contact with your group and/or other Rail-Hams.

Great job Rich!

[Ward-29C]

The linked UHF/VHF repeater system is working great. The coverage is everything Richard hoped it would be. Will you guys be taking another trip up the mountain before the snow falls? If so, I'd like to go up with you to see the setup.