Whanganui Vintage Weekend will welcome a very special visitor next year.

Vintage Weekend spokeswoman, Sally Jane Smith, said the JB1236 steam train, based in Plimmerton, would be travelling to Whanganui on January 20. It will be taking people on short trips between Whanganui and Whanganui East, and Whanganui and Kai Iwi.

"Tickets are $20 for adults for the Whanganui East, and $35 for the Kai Iwi trip, so ticket prices are cheaper than they have been in previous years.

Built by North British Locomotive Works in 1939, the engine was delivered to New Zealand in March 1940. It was initially based at Dunedin, working the hilly main line north of the city. It was later transferred to the North Island to work in Taumarunui, Frankton and Palmerston North districts, then back to the South Island in 1963.

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It was retired from service in 1971, and went through a variety of owners before being taken over by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust. Restoration began in 1998, which included converting it from coal-fired to oil-fired.

Tickets for the steam train are available to purchase at Eventfinda.

Ms Smith said she hoped the full guide for Vintage Weekend 2018 would be released on December 1.

Vintage Weekend will be held on January 19-22, and will include a fair, vintage car rally, soapbox derby, a jazz cruise and the popular street party, the Caboodle.