As the Traction series enters its tenth year, it's business as usual. There have been so many developments on the motive power scene that this first instalment for 2004 covers the first five months of the year from January to May.

It was a period not only of farewells, but of nostalgia and comebacks too. Surprisingly, it features only three Class 66 workings!

FREIGHT TRAFFIC AND TRACTION:
Extensive coverage of the final Royal Mail TPO workings
The first Class 73 for GB Railfreight
37667 working freight in the West Highlands
67029 hauling a rake of HAA coal hoppers from Aberdeen to Elgin
47776 on the Furzebrook LPG tanks
09020 on the WCML with limestone wagons from Shap Quarry
60023 on a Derby - Brighton 'Electrostar' delivery
37669 and 37695 on a Bescot - Ironbridge MGR
Heavy Haul Class 47/8s on Thameslink EMU movements
Class 37s return to the West Country on china clay traffic
47793 on the Immingham - Doncaster Enterprise
The last ever Class 56 MGR working
The last Class 56-hauled freight in South Wales
56078 on Worksop MGR duties and on Southern departmental traffic
56119 on the Swindon - Longbridge Rover vans
Footage of Class 58 loco 5811 working in Holland

PASSENGER TRACTION, RAILTOURS AND SPECIALS:
The return of Class 31-hauled passenger trains in the north west
The end of EWS Class 47s for First North Western
Top and tail Class 37/4s workings to Merthyr Tydfil
45112 on Midland Main Line passenger duties
Class 87s going into store at Bicester
37203 working to Rhymney
Virgin's 47851 on an EWS charter train to South Wales
37675 rescuing the VSOE
31601 in Wessex Trains livery
47635 reinstated to work a Cardiff - York charter
40145 storming the South Devon banks
Plus extensive coverage of the two final Class 56 railtours - the 'Sarum Flyer' and the 'Twilight Grids'

THERE'S ALSO:
'Royal' 47799 on Serco test train duties
31106 venturing to Mallaig with inspection saloon
The return of former Tinsley favourite 47145
Network Rail's 73213 on Serco duties
73109 rescuing Wessex Class 31s after they run out of fuel
47635 hauling two Railnet units from Crewe to Wembley
47355 hauling a Voyager unit
Network Rail's yellow HST power car on a Midland Main Line test train
Cromptons return to the Meldon Quarry branch
Six Spanish-bound Class 58s at Newport Docks
57601 on an inspection saloon in Suffolk
Bonus coverage of the North York Moors, West Somerset and Mid-Hants diesel galas

News stories, factual information, an astonishing assortment of strange workings and locomotive classes - all mixed with plenty of thrash - make this programme the most comprehensive and authoritative video record of the first five months of 2004.

Produced by - Locomaster Profiles
Running time - 90 Minutes
DVD only