The steam has been taken out of a weekend of model steam locomotives and vintage engines in Napier due to the total fire ban.
Instead of scale-model steam trains and quaint old chuffing tractors and static pumps, the two-day show being staged by the Hawke's Bay Model Engineering Society at Greenmeadows
will only be able to run diesel models around the Anderson Park train track.
Club vice-president Graham Leabourn said as part of the club's usual practice it made all the correct applications to stage the Saturday and Sunday club open days, which in past years was popular and attracted hundreds of people.
Part of the application process was to seek a fire permit, so that the small coal boilers could be fired up.
"But we were turned down because of the ban," Mr Leabourn said.
"It's a shame but there's a ban on and that's that," he said, pointing out that the grass around the tracks was lush, the soil still damp from mid-week rain and the surface under the train tracks shingle.
"We've staged this in drier years."
Mr Leabourn said some members were perplexed.
While the club's coal-burning steam steam engines were shown the red light, a coal-burning steam traction engine was able to operate on Napier roads and past garden areas during the Geon Art Deco Weekend.
He said the club could have gone ahead and held the open days without applying for a permit, and may have got away with it.
"But we've been told there's a blanket fire ban and don't want to rock the boat.
"The steam engines will be on display but at this stage they won't be running."
Napier City Council parks and reserves manager Tony Billing said the club's application had been discussed by regional fire and environmental safety officers and it was decided there was still too much of a risk.
Mr Billing said the total ban was locked in and had to be followed.
He was not involved in any permit application by steam operators during the Art Deco weekend, but speculated the low fire loadings and operating on asphalt roads may have gone in the traction engine's favour.
Train rides will be available behind the diesels, as well as a variety of model displays. The open days run 10am to 4pm.
