ROTA 2025

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th September 2025

Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group Takes to the Airwaves for “Railways on the Air” at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre

The Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group (NHARG) spent the weekend bringing history, technology, and community spirit together as they operated a special event station for Railways on the Air (ROTA) from the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, the home of the Great Central Railway (Nottingham).

ROTA, held annually on the last full weekend of September, celebrates the heritage of Britain’s railways by encouraging amateur radio groups to establish stations at or near historic railway sites. NHARG members operated under the callsign GB0NTH, engaging with radio enthusiasts across the UK and overseas.

A Busy Weekend on the Bands

From early Saturday morning, operators logged contacts on HF and VHF, taking advantage of lively autumn band conditions. Visitors to the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre (NTHC) stopped by to learn about amateur radio, Morse code, and the heritage railway environment, with the preserved locomotives of the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) providing an atmospheric backdrop.

A club spokesperson described the weekend as “one of the most successful ROTA events we’ve had,” noting the volume of contacts and the interest from the public. “There’s something magical about combining amateur radio with a living railway museum,” they said.

Weather for the Weekend

Conditions across the two event days offered a mix typical of late September:

Friday Night into Saturday, 26th September

A cool, misty start with fog clearing by mid-morning. The day then turned mild and bright, peaking at around 17°C, with light winds—perfect for setting up antennas and welcoming visitors.

Sunday, 27th September

A more overcast day with a moderate breeze and temperatures around 15°C. Light rain passed through during the afternoon, but operations continued unaffected under shelter. Propagation remained steady, helping operators maintain a strong contact rate.

Community and Heritage in Focus

Beyond radio operations, NTHC volunteers welcomed visitors to explore the locomotives, rolling stock, and workshops of the Great Central Railway (Nottingham).

The combination of technical radio demonstrations and heritage railway displays made the event especially popular with families and enthusiasts alike.

NHARG thanked the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre team for their support and confirmed they plan to return for ROTA 2026.

“Hearing heritage engines in the distance while making contacts is something you can’t easily replicate,” one operator noted. “It’s a brilliant blend of old and new technology.”