Feilding Steam Rail ran a passenger excursion over four days from Feilding to Gisborne and return during Labour Weekend 2007 behind WAB 794. Majik Video System's camera captured the excursion as it ran over the scenic Palmerston North - Napier - Gisborne line including the unique crossing of the Gisborne Airport runway.

WAB 794 entered service in May 1927 and was allocated to the heavily graded Dunedin to Oamaru section of the South Island Main Trunk until the introduction of the larger North British built J Class in 1939. The loco was transferred to Wellington in June 1943 to work suburban passanger trains and in 1954 was allocated to Wanganui for a short period where she was finally written off in August 1955.

Purchased by the Ohai Railway Board in Southland to operate coal trains on their private line between Wairia and Ohai, 794 had a new lease of life for a further five years before being relegated to stand-by locomotive after the introduction of diesel shunters to work the 11 kilometre line.

794 was donated to the New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society and eventually made her way in steam for Wairio to Timaru in March 1968 for storage until 1973 when she was towed to Christchurch.

Following a successful lease agreement with Feilding Steam Rail WAB 794 was towed north to Feilding in 1997 and so began the long restoration and rebuilding project by volunteer members to bring the locomotive back up to mainline running specification. 2003 saw the locomotive return to the mainline after six years of dedicated work.