The W.G. Bagnall "New Standard 18" saddle tank was introduced in 1951 as a state-of-the-art answer to the growing threat of dieselisation. Built at the Castle Engine Works in Stafford, a tiny but elite fleet of just three units was produced specifically for the grueling, heavy-shunting demands of the Port Talbot Steelworks in South Wales. Boasting sophisticated features like advanced roller bearings, these mighty industrial giants performed spectacularly, with two examples happily rescued by enthusiasts to carry their proud engineering legacy into preservation.
 
This gallery celebrates the absolute pinnacle of British industrial steam power, highlighting a brilliant, short-lived design that represented the final flourish of its era.