Draft:Steam group West Zuiderpark

Stoomgroep West Zuiderpark (Steamgroup West Southernpark) is a model building association of steam-powered model trains. At Stoomgroep West, "mini-trains" run on various sizes of (narrow) gauges. Both children and adults can ride for a fee. Not only steam trains run, there are also electric, diesel-electric, petrol-electric, diesel-hydraulic, petrol-hydraulic and diesel-mechanical trains.

The hobby club was founded in The Hague in 1975. The location in the "Zuiderpark was made available to the Stoomgroep West for a symbolic fee. The construction of a first oval track with a length of approximately 350 meters was started. On July 3, 1975, this so-called small 7¼ inch track was opened by the alderman. The construction of a 3½ and 5 inch track followed in the same year. Over the years, more and more tracks were added to the site. There is now a kind of ring line, with several lines in between. Also a track on stilts. In 2007, a line came into use from the site further into the park; this is also a 7¼ inch track, it is called the "Park track". With a total distance of approximately 5 kilometers, this route is the longest 7¼ inch route in the Netherlands/Benelux. Together with all the tracks on the site, it is also the largest model railway complex in the Netherlands/Benelux. The park course is only in use on Sunday afternoons and during the steam days in April.

Tracks & Routes
Of all the tracks that the association has at its disposal, the 7¼ inch track is the most used. This is/are the "Buitenbaan (Outer ring)", the "Nulletje (Zero)", the "Achtje (Eight)" and the "Parkbaan (Park Track)", and the various connections in between such as the "HSL (High Speed Line)" and the "Bridge". The tracks are layed out that it is possible to drive in a large "circle" shape, but also in smaller ones, or a "figure of eight". The "Buitenbaan" is the only one that provides the connection to the "Parkbaan" from the fenced area, and then enters back into the last part of the "Achtje (Eight)".


 * The "Buitenbaan (Outer ring)" as a route is approximately 875m long;
 * The "Achtje" as a route is approximately 850m long;
 * As a route, the "Parkbaan" is approximately 1550m long, from the Parkbaan switch to the connection to the "figure of eight".
 * The remaining length is divided over the various overflow switches, connections between routes, station tracks, yards and bypass tracks.

Singalling
All routes are now (for the majority) protected with signals, in model and function similar to the large signals of the Dutch Railways (Nederlandse Spoorwegen). The station is secured with semaphore signals based on the 1937 era, with the light signals based on the 1955 and 1967 signaling system of the NS. Only the "Parkbaan" is not protected with signals outside the fences, up to the level crossing, due to the risk of vandalism and damage to the equipment.

The Zuiderpark underwent a major renovation before 2020, during which the site of Stoomgroep West Zuiderpark was also changed. The site used to be open, but is now fenced off for protection of the equipment and infrastructure.

Level crossings & barriers
To reach the "Parkbaan (park track)", the trains cross a public road with a permanently placed 2-track levelcrossing, which is unique in the Benelux. This level crossing initially had 4 manually operated electric barriers, but after adjustments due to the construction of the sports campus, it has been changed to no fewer than 9 barriers with gates underneath, 15 red lights, 7 bells, 9 safety gates, and 5 double St. Andrew's crosses. All of normal NS size. That is also all unique in the Benelux/world. This level crossing is operated on site in a signal box. It is the most heavily secured level crossing in the Benelux. Also because only here are all barriers equipped with fences. Further on the park track there are 2 intersections with pedestrian/cycle paths, which are protected with automatic flashing lights and bells and St. Andrew's crosses. That is also unique on a public path. There is even more security on site, in the form of mini-AKIs and 1 AHOB. There is also a signal box there. There is also a pedestrian bridge on the park track, and the rails are located in the middle of that bridge without any separation. This is also unique, because there is no level crossing protection there, because it was designed to be a tram-like crossing. There are no stations along the way; The only boarding point is on the fenced site, because local law prohibits competition to the public transport network, which has been given to the HTM. Everything depends on volunteers and the weather; In bad weather or staff shortages, trips or days may be canceled.

NVWA Commodities Act Amusement & Playground Equipment
Due to a change in the law in the Rail Traffic Regulations, the legislation no longer applies to all railways with a track gauge smaller than 500mm nominal. This has created a situation in which control of these railways has been transferred from Rijkswaterstaat to the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, and they now fall under the Commodities Act Attraction & Play Equipment (WAS), with the transitional arrangement ending on March 31, 2023. This means that all miniature railways will be where passengers are transported are considered an attraction, and they must therefore comply with the WAS and be registered in the RAS (Register of Attraction & Playground Equipment). This RAS number must be visible to the public and can only be obtained after an inspection by an inspection body.

The Stoomgroep West Zuiderpark, in collaboration with various other model building associations (where passengers are transported), has set up a working group and was also the driving force for documenting and demonstrating conformity with the NVWA WAS legislation, and was officially opened again for transport on June 7, 2023. of passengers, after an inspection by TÜV Netherlands.

External link

 * Official website