Toitu Otago Settlers Museum educator Sara Sinclair cuts a cake in the museum's Josephine Foyer yesterday, with the help of Frankie McKinlay (6), to celebrate the 142nd birthday of steam locomotive Josephine.
Frankie said the birthday cake was ''good'' but chocolate was not her favourite flavour.
Ms Sinclair said for the celebration she dressed as the fat controller from Thomas the Tank Engine and about 500 people visited Josephine for her birthday.
''She is very, very special to some children.''
The celebration included face painting, a reading of Josephine off the Rails by author Diane Miller and an illustration workshop by Sheryl Black.
Josephine was the first locomotive assembled and operated between Dunedin and Port Chalmers and continued to be used across New Zealand until it was retired in 1917.
