A good quality photo of Floriana from the collections of the V&A museum reveals the chain of ventilation shafts over the Malta Railway tunnel. They go off into the distance before the tunnel curved to the right, necessitated by an underground reservoir, and further vents continue through Argotti Gardens.

Just visible in the foreground above the tunnel mouth is a telegraph pole and insulators used to carry the Railway’s telephone lines, fundamental to the safe running of the line.