West Manchester Radio Club has received an award, pictured, for the recent museums on the air field day that we all took part in. As per a previous post, I was the first on the radio working GB1TT as GB0PIT on 2m, and proud to be a part of this award along with our other operators for the club.
Today I had a very enjoyable day with friends from the West Manchester Radio club at the Lancashire Mining Museum at the former Astley colliery which closed in 1970 celebrating museums on the air.
I am pictured making the first contact using special event call sign GB0PIT to another museum, the GB1TT “Turton Tower” museum, operated by Bolton Wireless Club.
With the sun out, and it being a baking hot day, I even managed a cream tea for my lunch, and an ice cream afterwards. Very enjoyable and reasonably priced too with a coffee included.
Here are some photos of the winding engines and other mining equipment including a rescue winder with an eight cylinder Gardener diesel engine, (I have never seen one before), and that largest winding engine left in existence that is still running…
Friends from West Manchester Radio Club all working as a team to make the event possible…
In previous years, as you all well know, I have been involved with the Scouts JOTA, however, I have never been involved in a MOTA (Museums On The Air). Given my late father’s background working for a company servicing mine equipment, it was about time I got involved with a coal pit museum.
MOTA, this year will be held on two weekends in June, the Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June, and also Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June 2026. Link to the RSGB website.
My own radio club, the West Manchester Radio Club, each year activate the Lancashire Mining Museum at the old Astley pit, just off the A580 East Lancashire road, and operating with the special event call sign GB0PIT.
As a club we have six members operating two radios, HF, and VHF/UHF. Radios and antennas yet to be decided.
Due to other family commitments, I can only get involved in one date, Saturday 20th June, which I am looking forward to next month.
