Ham exams on a train

Amateur radio examinations were conducted in a most unusual place during Field Day 2005. The location was on board a historical 1920's era train at the Texas State Railroad Park in Rusk, Texas.

The exams took place on the afternoon of June 25th. This, according to Larry Pollock, NB5X, who is the President of the W5YI-VEC.

Pollock attended the event and participated in the sessions. He called the tests a very unique opportunity to show the public what the hobby of Amateur Radio is all about including the examination process.

The results were 4 new Technician licensees and 2 upgrades to General. This made for some very excited kids when they learned that they had passed and had earned their licenses. Many had already operated on the "Get On The Air" supervised Field Day station earlier that day and were
ready to get on the air by themselves.

The Texas State Railroad State Park is well know for its historical train ride through the East Texas landscape. But for two days over 100 amateur operators from all over the state took advantage of a special opportunity to operate using special call signs of N5R and W5R from a radio equipped caboose that was constructed for communications purposes way back in 1952.

Burt Hicks, WB6MQV - Amateur Radio Newsline

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