Trenitalia in HO: ICN1963 Milano-Sicilia + IC727 Roma-Sicilia con 2xACME Pilota Z1a

Here is a video showing some of the most unique train formations you will see in Italy. Trains from the mainland to Sicily still cross the Straits of Messina in a train ferry. This means that historically, the trains that run to Sicily are designed to be split for the train ferry, then split in two- one portion goes to the South East (Siracusa) and one to the South West (Palermo). Recently, Trenitalia have taken this to new heights- they literally run two trains coupled together through mainland Italy, then they go their separate ways once they get to the island. The trains are formed of 2x four coach InterCity rakes. There is an E464 loco at least end, and two pilota Z1a coaches face to face in the middle! The E464s used to Sicily are being adapted- some have traditional buffers, whilst others are gaining batteries. This means they can run themselves onto the train ferry (rather than using the traditional shunters and barrier coaches). Now that ACME have done a second run of Z1a pilotas, I can now recreate this rake! My Vitrains E464s are in charge of this train- as you can imagine, a rake like this needs a little persuading to cooperate! The second rake is Treno Notte ICN1963 that travels from Milano to Siracusa and Palermo. Usually it is ten or more coaches long (again, designed to be split), but one some days may only be 8. Here is a video of the train I have recreated, at a time when it was double headed by combinations of E402bs and E403s:    • intercity notte 1963 Milano Centrale - Sir...   I discovered I have exactly the right collection of coaches and locos to recreate this consist. My Riva E402bs are hauling my rake of ACME InterCity Notte UIC-X couchettes and sleepers. Finally, my Riva E652 is pottering around the centre circuit with a freight. Sorry- my freight stock is a bit forlorn / b grade, but I'm not really a freight junky!