During late March/early April 2024, Steam Incorporated & Pounamu Tourism Group ran a series of day and weekend steam & heritage diesel excursion trains, from either Picton/Blenheim to Kaikoura/Christchurch & return, titled 'The Whale Train'. With Ab 608 back home in Paekakariki, after a short stint hauling The Marlborough Flyer for 2023/2024, Ja 1271 was brought south across Cook Strait to haul these excursion trains, alongside Da 1431 in its TMS guise as DA 345. This was the first time in 16 years that 1271 has visited the South Island, which last saw it haul a private charter and visiting the Weka Pass Railway. The Ja also made use of the recently restored turntable in Kaikoura, which has become a valuable asset to the running of these excursion trains. All shots in this video were taken between Blenheim & Kaikoura along the Main North Line on Monday 1st & Saturday 6th April 2024 - enjoy!