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

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

And here we go, here are Les' pics of DWBYE 1370 Calera, Alabama.

The sign out front of the station near the road
http://www.onairdj.com/wbyesign.jpg

The front of the WBYE building, close up
http://www.onairdj.com/wbyefront.jpg

The front of the WBYE building a little further back, from a different angle
http://www.onairdj.com/wbyefront1.jpg

Enjoy.. or, well not... seeing as what these pictures show... a dead, gone
and never coming back radio station.

Paul


On Thu, May 14, 2015 at 9:33 AM, Paul B. Walker, Jr. <
walkerbroadcasting@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> 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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