As mentioned in the previous blog, I wanted to include a couple of modeled mills in the port scene. The Royal Oil Mill was dealt with then. The other, Florence Flour Mill, has now been added to the right hand side of the scene. It was originally intended to be a tribute to Clarence Mill in Hull, an impressive landmark structure beside the river until reduced to a heap of rubble about three years ago.

Much time was then spent pondering on how the heck I was going to squeeze it into the 3 inches available. However I was overtaken by events. The millers ran out of patience and took it upon themselves to throw up a hideous concrete edifice instead, a building so ugly it gives me the creeps.

Letters of outrage have been written to the Tweedale Times by those living in its shadow. They knew a view blocker was needed in that corner but weren't expecting anything so bad. Rats have even been reported, but that's just exaggeration... they are still on the To Do list. The likelihood is it will be demolished in due course (the one thing it will have in common with Clarence), and be replaced with something less repulsive, but for now it will just have to do.

As far as the railway is concerned, the mill generates just one outward van load of flour per week, for the pie factory at Grimley. Its probably just as well the traffic is light, as vans for the mill are inconveniently parked on the set of points at the entrance to the port, as seen in the photo. Spotting the empty van has to be the last shunting move performed before departing the port.

Behind the mill can be seen the station. Although I don't run a regular passenger service, I do like adding stations. They provide a focal point for each scene and their presence hints that this place here is supposed to be miles away from that place there in the scene next door.

The port still remains nameless which accounts for the lack of a nameboard at the station. However I have been assured by the local council that a naming committee has been formed and 'the matter is being deliberated with utmost celerity, weighing up the pros and cons in all aspects leaving no stone unturned'. Hmmm, not expecting anything soon then. The platform is only about 3 inches long, but its enough to cater for the railbus should I decide to bring it down here on a charter or even a tentative boat train service. Meanwhile the station canopy provides a convenient shelter for loafers wanting to watch the dockers and shunters at work. It seems to be in surprisingly good condition for what is essentially a disused station in the sad end of dockland. Perhaps I should invite some of the town's hooligans along, with their penknives, chalks and catapults, to 'weather' it.

Cheers, Alan.