Dream as steaming 'beast' arrives

One of the most iconic Kiwi steam locomotives will roll through Hawke's Bay this weekend - realising a dream for one of the men who will be driving it.

It has been more than 15 years since one of the giant steamers of the tracks, the 145-ton Ka-class, has been through the Bay but the fully restored Ka942, built in 1940 and retired from service in 1967, is about to fill the air with sound and steam and smoke.

For one of the men charged with handling what many enthusiasts describe as "a powerful beast" it will be like Christmas come early.

"I always wanted to drive one but steam went out when I started with the railways," Napier man and former train driver for 40 years, Kevin Tasker, said. "So I never got to - but now I've got that chance."

Long interested in the steam era, Mr Tasker took up a semi-retired role as engine driver for the few steam trains which still run the country's tracks.

He will take the controls for Ka942's run up into the Bay as part of the New Zealand Steam Tour 2011 which has passengers from all the over country, and the world, booked to travel the tracks of the country, on five different steamers, over 17 days.

"We've been waiting a while for this one," Mr Tasker said.

The locomotive is run by the Mainline Steam Trust and the restoration was steered by owner Ian Welch, who found it in a Lower Hutt railyard in 1972 - awaiting scrapping.

It has since been completely rebuilt twice and is now one of the country's most photographed steam trains - renowned for its 1400 horsepower.

The locomotive is due to arrive tomorrow night for the Saturday-morning leg of the tour from Napier to Gisborne, which leaves the former Napier Travel Centre station off Munroe St at 8.30am. It is due back on Sunday between 3pm and 4pm, and will head south next Tuesday at 10.30am.