Even if the gravel in the middle of the points has yet to be laid, I dedicated some time to some other jobs. The photo on the left shows the details of the positioning of the end of rail buffers immersed in the gravel of the goods shed (the colouring of the buffer has yet to be personalised). The right hand photo shows the white wooden sleeper (darkened by the use of ash) used to indicate precisely the limit of stationary trains in the immediate vicinity of the points. Nowadays these sleepers are made of cement.

In the two photos one can see the transformation of old lamp-posts found in the attic (Rivarossi I think) into lamp-posts which I remember were present in the 1960's and which need to be positioned before laying the grass. Many years ago, standing in front of a similar lamp-post I asked a railway man why the cables had been fixed at differing heights to which he replied, “so that the wires don't touch each other when the wind blows strongly...”

After having laid the gravel on the downwards lateral slope of the final part of the track which services the goods yard I became aware of a problem caused by the plexiglass screen. When it is in position the acrylic crystal touches at its upper side, lateral movement is impeded by two small transparent plastic blocks. I had not realised that the central part curved inwards (see diagram at left) thus brushing against the gravel of the camber and damaging the model. The only possible solution was to place a spacer exactly midway between the two existing blocks at the very edge of the plexiglass.

To create the “water” effect, Faller products were used. After having created the necessary space a reflective material is then placed into it. If had had greater depth then I could have created a better effect by placing the transparent part slightly higher than the base but unfortunately, the excavation is only 5mm. deep. Obviously it will then be coloured and finished to appear as near as possible to the real thing.

The trace pickets, made from pieces of rail, painted white and solidly planted in the ground are used by the Italian railways to check the initial position of the tracks on those places where due to centrifugal force, caused by the passage at high speed of the trains, there could be a displacement of the bed. A ruling states that they must be positioned every 10metres at a distance of 1.5m. from the track edge and must be 10cm.higher than the track at any given point. Other than on the outside curve of a track they are also used where the terrain is especially undulating.

The fencing (from ACME, article n° 30003) serves to limit the area of the state railway's land. The product is presented in a box and the construction is not difficult. The lower part of the uprights is 7mm in length and therefore if one wants to avoid drilling minute holes for the correct placing as I did, then it would be a good idea to reduce the size to something more realistic. The space to the left of the level crossing has been left open to allow the positioning of the small railway shed. In all, with the station and the track, I have laid about 150cm of fencing.

After a three-month wait, as soon as the sales started, I bought for a little more than €70.00 that which I lacked. The small video screen has been fixed to two shelves on the inside of the door of the cabinet, a position which is easily visible from the command position. A light chain prevents the door opening more than is necessary and subsequently the inside of the cabinet will be screened so that the video will be hidden from view from the outside. Besides the screen (black and white, and measuring 15cm by 20cm.) two small video cameras are supplied. These cameras, having a filming angle of 92°, permit the transmission of images in conditions of subdued lighting, being capable of working at light as low as 0.5 lux. The first camera has been installed at the end of the three tracks and the other at the entry of the tunnel to be able to oversee the occupation in the vicinity of the three-point exchange. The images that the cameras give, much clearer than would appear from the photos, can be controlled manually or by means of a timer. As can be seen from the photos, I can now see and control the station of Monte Scuro!