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Polar Bear Express DXpedition- Update!

by Laird Solomon, VE3LKS, Laird_Solomon_at_SMTP_Laird.Solomon@host.igs.net

Date: June 26, 1996
Updated news on the Oshawa, ON Polar Bear Express DXpedition!

Frequencies
Train - 14.250, 14.130, 7.250, 7.060
Station - same as train plus 3.780 - 3.800, 3740
Island - 14.260

Expanded Train Operation
Ontario Northland has been gracious enough to take us to Cochrane, ON, from Toronto. This means that we will not have to drive for eleven hours to get to Cochrane. It also means that we will be activating the Northlander train going up and back to Cochrane as well as the Polar Bear Express to and from Moosonee. We will QSL from each individual train so be prepared to work both of them. The time schedule follows.

Schedule

• August 1 - depart Toronto Union Station at 12:00EST and arrive in Cochrane at 22:30EST
  • contact this train and receive QSL indicating the "Northlander"
• August 2 - set up equipment on Polar Bear Express, test, and relax
• August 3 - depart Cochrane at 08:30EST and arrive in Moosonee at 12:30EST
  • contact this train and receive QSL indicating the "Polar Bear Express"
  • set up radios in train station and start DXing
  • if weather ok then Akimiski Island IOTA crew departs
• August 4 to 6 - DX from station, IOTA island, and Canadian islands
• August 7 - depart Moosonee at 17:15EST with station setup on Polar Bear Express
  • some operating during morning and early afternoon from station
  • contact this train and receive QSL indicating the "Polar Bear Express"
  • arrive at Cochrane at 21:20EST
• August 8 - depart Cochrane at 08:20EST and arrive at Toronto at 18:30EST
  • contact this train and receive QSL indicating the "Northlander"
  • dismantle stations and head for home happy to have met so many new friends on the air

Neat Stuff
We have learned that there will be quite a few Europeans on the trains and we believe some are even Amateurs. We will have signs posted in French, German, Italian, etc. inviting these tourists to come join us so if you check in from Europe don't be surprised if one of your countrymen returns the call.

Also, we plan to have a world map on location and will mark off each city/country that we make contact with. This will give the passengers a sense of what Amateur radio can really do!

New Member
Unfortunately Aldo, VE3AG, will not be able to come with us but Ernest Pool, VE3NSZ has come aboard. Welcome Ernest and prepare for lots of excitement!

Information on how you can join us!
Ontario Northland - to get a rail schedule and fees for making the round trip from Cochrane to Moosonee you can call Ontario Northland at 800-268-9281.
Tourist Info - to get tourist info on Cochrane, Moosonee, and the surrounding area, contact Stephanie Wright at 800-354-9948.
DXpedition Team - you can also send mail to myself via the following methods:
Packet - ve3lks@va3bbs (my station will be down from July 1 to July 15 - I am moving)
Internet - lsolomon@osha.igs.net
Official Homepage - http://www.durhamradio.ca
Unofficial Homepage - http://www.osha.igs.net/~lsolomon
Until next time, 73 de Laird, VE3LKS.

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