Documentary examining the Standard locomotives. Following the Second World War, the railways were somewhat worn out and run down, as was the steam locomotive fleet. The idealistic new Labour Government was committed to nationalising the railways, and thus produced a homogeneous railway system for the first time in Great Britain's history. However, there was no money for investment in the new technology of electrification or diesel locomotives that was taking place elsewhere in Europe and the USA, so steam designs were continued from the 'Big 4' days and a new range of Standard locomotives was produced for construction in the 1950s. There was to be one final steam fling as the reconstruction of the controversial Bulleid Pacifics of the Southern produced what was to be effectively the last main line steam type of all.
