Readers will have noticed an increasing number of references in our Steam News pages to 'The Flour Mill'. This venue with the incongruous name has rapidly grown into one of Britain's main heavy engineering workshops for steam traction and owes much of its existence to Swindon Works. CLIFF THOMAS reports from deep in the Forest of Dean. The Flour Mill and its owner Bill Parker have become inextricably linked with high-profile steam locomotive work in recent years. The wonderful restoration of NRM-owned Beattie well tank No. 30587 resulted in the engine gracing the February 2003 cover of The Railway Magazine, and further publicity surrounded the arrival of the boiler of iconic GWR 4-4-0 City of Truro to the Forest of Dean for repairs. Other high-profile contracts won by this oddly-named locomotive works include the ￡200,000 resurrection of pannier tank No. 4612 from ex-Barry scrapyard condition and the arrival from Beamish of J21 class 0-6-0 No. 65033 for stripping plus an assessment of what will be required to return that engine to steam too.
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