Re: [IRCA] [NRC-AM] WBEY 1370 Calera, AL "Fallen Flags"

["Paul B. Walker, Jr." <walkerbroadcasting@xxxxxxxxx>]

Les,

If you took pictures and want to email them to me, I will be glad to post
them in a way that all members can access them, since i'm not sure this
list can accept attachments and i'm not sure members would liek a ton of
photos flooding their inbox.

Paul

On Thu, May 14, 2015 at 9:31 AM, ROBERT GALERSTEIN <bobgale@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

> Les,
>
> Is it possible to post some of these photos, or submit them to the NRC
> website?
>
> Bob Galerstein WB2VGD
> Monroe, NY
>
>
>  On Thu, May 14, 2015 at 10:02 AM, Les Rayburn wrote:
>
>  >
>
>> Out driving yesterday, when my wife and I passed a run-down sign that was
>> so sun-bleached as to almost be unreadable. But a quick glance at the
>> business associated with the sign made me realize that I was looking at
>> W-B-E-Y, 1370 AM.
>>
>> I turned around and went back for a closer look. A quick turn of the dial
>> told me that the station was off the air...and I couldn't recall if it was
>> in my log book at home. I took a few pictures using my cell phone camera,
>> as we had a look around.
>>
>> In back of the building was a large fiberglass C-Band satellite dish,
>> that I imagined had once received programming from some other source. But
>> no evidence of an STL link. Instead, I found a tall telephone pole with
>> what looked like the remains of a 40 meter dipole mounted near the top. 50
>> ohm coax ran from inside the building to the top of the pole. Could someone
>> had loaded up
>> this for use as the stations antenna?
>>
>> The large faded letters on the front of the building were almost like the
>> voice of a ghost. It was sad, and nostalgic---all at the same time.
>>
>> Railroad fans use the term "fallen flags" to refer to railroads that no
>> longer exist. Think of companies like Conrail, or Southern. Their boxcars
>> can still be seen on trains today, echoes from railroads past. I couldn't
>> help but thinking of the term "Fallen Flag" when it came to this station.
>> Had it once been a hometown hero, reporting on local happenings, lost dogs,
>> and obituaries. Or was it one of the many gospel/religious stations that
>> seem to dot the southern landscape more than any other?
>>
>> A quick check of Wikipedia revealed a little more, but not much. It looks
>> like the station went off the air in 2002---but it's absent from my
>> logbook. How could I have missed a 1,000 watt daytime only station, less
>> than 15 miles from my home? Hmmm....
>>
>> I wonder if anyone out there logged this station? And I can't help but
>> wonder how many more stations like this we'll lose in the years ahead.
>>
>>
>> --
>> 73,
>>
>>
>> Les Rayburn, N1LF
>> Maylene, AL
>> EM63
>>
>> Member NRC, IRCA, & Medium Wave DX Circle
>> Former CPC Chairman for NRC/IRCA
>>
>> Elad FDM-S2 SDR, SDR-IQ,Funcube Pro, Wellbrooke ALA-1530+ loop, Clifton
>> Lab Active Whip,
>> Quantum Phaser, Kiwa Loop, Palstar MW Pre-Selector
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Get your copy of the
>> 35th Edition of the AM Radio Log
>> http://www.nrcdxas.org
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
> Get your copy of the
> 35th Edition of the AM Radio Log
> http://www.nrcdxas.org
>
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