Over the weekend of Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August 2025, the 28th International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend was held. I got into the shack whenever possible, hoping to work as many lighthouses and lightships as I could.
I ended up working lighthouses and lightships in the following countries:
Australia
Belgium
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Gibraltar
Ireland
Italy
Malta
Netherlands
New Zealand
Northern Ireland
Portugal
Spain
Turkey
West Malaysia
I also worked several WWFF park & SOTA activators in Europe.
Below is a list of those whom I worked.
SATURDAY
VK2NCS – Sugarloaf Point lighthouse AU0033
VK3DX – Lady Bay Upper & Lower lighthouses AU0049 & AU0096
VK5ARC – Point Malcolm lighthouse AU0029
VK2HBG – Warden Head lighthouse AU0035
VK3SWV – Whaler’s Bluff lighthouse AU0117
9M4LHU – Puiau Undan lighthouse MY0017
9M4LHN – Tanjung Tuan/Rumah Api lighthouse
VK6CLL – Cape Leewin lighthouse AU0008 & Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park VKFF-0283
9M4LBJ – Bukit Jugra lighthouse mY0006
VK6CNL – Cape Naturaliste lighthouse & Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park VKFF-0283
VK3/ZL1MVL – Cape Nelson lighthouse AU0055
ZM2MF – Bean Rock lighthouse NZ0011
VK5CJL – Cape Jervis lighthouse AU0094
9M4LBJ – Bukit Jugra lighthouse MY0006
VK4GHL – Grassy Hill lighthouse AU0019
VK4CQR – Sea Hill lighthouse AU0060
GB4CL – Cromer Light, Norfolk UK0076
IR3LH – Porto Piave Vecchia lighthouse IT0033
9H6SEL – St Elmo Grand Harbour West Breakwater MT0003
EI1K – Cromwell Point lighthouse IE0001
DA0OIE – Greifswaler OIE DE0009
SQ2BXI/p – SPFF-1340
TM2LW – Be Leger lighthouse FR0039
M1EYP/p – SOTA G/ SP-015
EG5FOM – Faro Oropesa de Mar lighthouse ES0056
PA6OEL – Old Emmerloord lighthouse NL0029
F6KMB – lighthouse FR0029
OZ1NBG – Nordborg lighthouse DK0006
ZB2LGT – Europa Point lighthouse GI0001
GB1DLH – Dungeness Lighthouses old & new UK0059 & UK0060
DL8ECA/p – DLFF-1255
9A/DJ1KW – Savudrija lighthouse HR0001
DK0RA – ALtenbruch Unterfeur lighthouse DE0050
DL0RWE – Old lighthouse Borkum DE0046
GB2EL – Rahlin East, Low & High, UK0055 & UK0056
SUNDAY
VK4BAR – Cleveland Point lighthouse AU0014
ZL1FND – Cape Reinga lighthouse NZ0020
DA0LCC – Altenbruch Oberfeur lighthouse DE0057
TC7TR – Yoroz lighthouse TR0003
GB2SL – Spurn Point High lighthouse UK0080
DK5FF/p – DLFF-0040
SQ9MDF – SOTA SP/ BZ-001 & SPFF-0002
SQ2BXI/p – SPFF-0645
VK6ADF – Cape Leewin lighthouse AU0008 & Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park VKFF-0283
VK6CLL – Cape Leewin lighthouse AU0008 & Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park VKFF-0283
F4HXJ/p – FFF-2188
ON4RCO – Oosende ‘Lange Nelle’ BE0008
GB1RP – Rue Point lighthouse UK0185
ON9BD – ‘Westhinder 3’ lightship BE0006
GB2WL – Rathlin West lighthouse UK0217
CT2HOV/p – SOTA CT/ BT-008 & CTFF-0177
MM7TKU/p – GM/ WS-318
F4GYM/p – Cayeux-sur-Mer lighthouse FR0007
DK0SN – Lightship ‘Elbe 3’ DE0150
OZ4HAM – Hammeren lighthouse DK0015
CS2SJB – Sao Juliao da Barra lighthouse PT0006
F4IQU/p – FFF-0027
GB2HLH – Hunstanton lighthouse UK0011
PD0FSB – Ooserdijk Lighthouse de Ven NL0035
EG1LWM – Faro Oropesa de Mar lighthouse ES0020
CT7AUS/p – CTFF-0944
EC2AG/p – SOTA EA2/ BI-073
DL0HGW – Lighthouse Cape Arkona New Tower DE0002
TM0BSM – Phare de Berck lighthouse FR0014
Below is a video of some of my ILLW contacts over the weekend.
At about 0703 UTC on Friday, the 15th day of August 2025, I tuned in to WWV and WWVH, transmitting on 10000 kHz.
WWV and WWVH are shortwave radio time signal stations operated by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They transmit time and frequency information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (NIST 2025) (Wikipedia 2025)
WWV is located near Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. It transmits on 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 15 MHZ using 10,000 watts, and on 2.5 MHZ & 20 MHZ using 2,500 watts. (NIST 2025) (Wikipedia 2025)
WWVH is located at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, in Kekaha, on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. WWVH transmits on 10 MHZ and 15 MHZ using 10,000 watts, and 2.5 MHZ using 5,000 watts. (Wikipedia 2025)
Above: Aerial view of Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands. Image c/o Google Maps.
WWV and WWVH operate on the same frequencies, and depending on where you are in the world, you will often hear them both. Voice announcements on one correspond to silent periods on the other. WWVH uses a female voice to distinguish itself from WWV. (Wikipedia 2025)
The voice used on WWVH is that of Jane Barbe. She was born in 1928 in Winter Haven, Florida, USA, and died in 2003, age 74, at Roswell, Georgia, USA. Barbe was a voice actress and singer. She was known as the ‘Time Lady’.
At about 1014 UTC on Thursday, the 14th day of August 2025, I tuned in to WRMI Radio Miami International, USA, broadcasting on 9455 kHz in the English language.
The broadcast was coming from the 100 kW transmitter at Okeechobee, USA. The target audience was Central America.
The overall reception of WRMI was good.
S
I
N
P
O
4
4
4
4
4
My equipment:-
Yaesu FTdx101MP
dipole antenna
Below is a short video showing my reception of WRMI.
References.
World Radio TV Handbook 2025
Shortwaveschedule.com. (2024). ShortwaveSchedule.com. [online] Available at: https://shortwaveschedule.com/ [Accessed 14 Aug. 2025].
Short-wave.info. (2023). Short-Wave Radio Frequency Schedule. [online] Available at: http://www.short-wave.info/index.php [Accessed 14 Aug. 2025].
A reminder that from 13th September to 29th September 2025, I will be on air with the special event call of VI8POL for the 8th Annual National Police Week.
The event includes National Police Remembrance Day, when we pause to honour the 827 Australian police officers whose lives have been lost while performing their duty. It is also a time to remember police officers who have lost their lives through illness or other circumstances.
More information, including videos, QSL information can be found on the VI8POL QRZ.com page at……
On Wednesday, 13 August 2025, the Strathalbyn Amateur Radio Group visited the Steamranger Depot at Mount Barker for our monthly gathering.
The Steamranger Heritage Railway operates heritage steam and diesel-hauled tourist trains between Mount Barker and Victor Harbor.
The Steamranger Heritage Railway is an 82 km long broad gauge tourist railway which was formerly the Victor Harbor railway line of the South Australian Railways (SAR). The line branched from the Adelaide to Melbourne line at Mount Barker junction. (Wikipedia 2025)
The first railway to be constructed in South Australia was the 11 km line from Goolwa to Port Elliott. It was completed in 1854. The line was then extended to Victor Harbor in 1864, and in 1869, the line was extended northwards to Strathalbyn. The line from Adelaide reached Strathalbyn in 1884.
Above: part of an article from the Southern Argus, Sat 27 Feb 1869. Image c/o Trove
Below is an excellent video on the history of the Victor Harbor line.
One of the trains is a South Australian Railways F class no. 251. This particular engine resonated with me, as it was built by Perry Engineering of Mile End. I did a major assignment on Perry Engineering whilst I was in High School and received an A+.
The F class steam locomotive hauled most of Adelaide’s suburban passenger trains from 1902, when it was introduced. A total of 43 were produced, with 21 being built at Islington Workshops, 12 at James Martin & Co, and 10 at Perry Engineering. (Wikipedia 2025)
Steamranger’s F class no. 251 entered service in 1922 and was condemned in July 1962 by the South Australian Railways, having travelled 877,000 miles in service. (Australiansteam.com 2025)
Perry Engineering was the business of Samuel ‘Sam’ Perry. He was born in 1864 in Shropshire, England. Early on, he became associated with the iron and steel industry, obtaining an apprenticeship with the Coalbrookdale Company. At age 22, he emigrated to South Australia in 1887. He married Mary Jane ‘Polly’ Rofe in 1894. Perry died in 1930 aged 65 years, and is buried at the Payneham Cemetery, South Australia. (Trove 2025)
Above: Samuel Perry. Image c/o Chronicle, Adelaide, Thu 27 Mar 1930 (Trove).
The following was reported in his obituary in the Chronicle in 1930:
“The death of Mr. Samuel Perry which occurred at Ru Rua Hospital at the age of 65, removes from South Australia business and manufacturing circles another of those sturdy men who by sheer strength of will and force of character have climbed from the botom rung of the ladder to a position of prominence, in which the respect and esteem of a large number of fellow citizens have been won.” (Trove 2025)
Perry Engineering can trace its history back to 1899 when Samuel Perry purchased the Tubal Cain Ironworks on Hindley Street. Perry also had a property on North Terrace where he established a bridge and girder factory. In c. 1911, he purchased land at Mile End and established a factory there, which by 1916 was known as Perry Engineering. (Trove 2025)
In 1915, Perry purchased the James Martin & Co. Phoenix Foundry works in Gawler, where locomotives had been produced. (Trove 2025)
Above: part of an article from the Bunyip, Gawler, Fri 16 Apr 1915. Image c/o Trove.
The Perry Engineering site at Mile End covered an area of 15 acres. (Trove 2025)
Above: the steel yards at Perry Engineering, c. 1925. Image c/o State Library South Australia [B 14460]
Perry Engineering constructed locomotives for the Commonwealth Railways, South Australian Railways and Tasmanian Government Railways. The company also built locomotives for Queensland sugar cane line operators and for the Victorian State Rivers & Water Supply Commission to use on the construction of the Hume Weir. (Wikipedia 2025)
Above: A steam locomotive built by Perry Engineering. Image c/o State Library South Australia [B 14460]
During the Second World War, the majority of the factory was converted to manufacture munitions and other defence equipment, including the Ferret Scout Car. By the 1950s, Perry Engineering was manufacturing mechanical presses for Chrysler, Ford, and Holden. (Wikipedia 2025)
The Perry Engineering Mile End workshop closed in 1969. In 2001, the majority of the buildings on the old site were demolished to make way for the construction of the Mile End Homemaker Centre. (Wikipedia 2025)
The other place where trains were once produced also fascinates me. As a child, I would travel past there on a regular basis with my parents, and I always sat up in the car to take notice of what was going on there. Where am I talking about? The Islington Railway workshops in the western suburbs of Adelaide.
The workshops are still in operation today, but are a shadow of their former self. They were established in the early 1880s and were well known for their construction and maintenance of locomotives, carriages and wagons. (Wikipedia 2025)
Above: Islington Railway Workshops. c. 1927. Image c/o State Library South Australia [B 4403]
The South Australian Railways workshops were originally located at the Adelaide Railway Station on North Terrace and were moved to Islington due to insufficient space.
The Islington Railway Workshops constructed several locomotives used by the South Australian Railways, including R class steam locomotives, T class steam locomotives, 620 class steam locomotives, Redhen railcars, and Brill railcars. (Wikipedia 2025)
Above: A 600 class locomotive at Isington, c. 1933. Image c/o State Library South Australia [PRG 341/66/1]
Steamranger has some R-class locomotives and Red Hens.
Above: R class, no. 224 at Steamranger.
From about 2014, much of the Islington Railway workshop land was redeveloped into the Churchill Shopping Centre, including a Coles Superstore. Fortunately, several of the historic buildings at Islington have been retained and are on the South Australian State Heritage List. This includes the chief mechanical engineer’s office, built in 1891, the apprentice school, built in 1882, and the foundry, built in 1892. (Adelaide AZ 2025)
A diesel locomotive at Islington, c. 1951. Image c/o State Library South Australia [B 58892/280]
This post has prompted me to head down to Islington in the next few weeks to photograph some of the old surviving buildings.
Below are some photos from our visit to Steamranger. Thanks to Peter VK5PET for organising the day.
Australiansteam.com. (2025). Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under – F251. [online] Available at: http://www.australiansteam.com/F251.htm [Accessed 15 Aug. 2025].
SteamRanger Heritage Railway. (2023). Welcome to South Australia’s SteamRanger Heritage Railway. [online] Available at: https://www.steamrangerheritagerailway.org/. [Accessed 15 Aug. 2025].
VK5PAS 