One of the slowest and most expensive train trips in history starts in Dunedin this week.
But there will be no passengers aboard when locomotive Ja 1274 makes a $700,000 journey north from its home at the Otago Settlers' Museum.
The 146-tonne locomotive, which has been on display at the museum since 1975, will be moved 100m to a custom-built 6m high glass viewing enclosure.
Contractor, Fulton Hogan, started laying track yesterday in preparation to pull Ja 1274 from its home either tomorrow or Thursday.
The $8.6 million fourth-stage redevelopment of the museum will also see another historic locomotive, Josephine, featured in the museum's northern entrance.
"Josephine took all day to move 2mm at a time with two guys on a winch. Ja 1274 is two or three times as heavy as Josephine, so we'll see how we go," Otago Settlers' Museum exhibitions team leader, Jennifer Evans, said yesterday.
The event can be watched through the museum's new webcam, which can be accessed through its website, www.otago.settlers.museum.
"We'll get people all over the world watching if a train is being moved," Ms Evans said.
"People just love trains."
