Final toot for the Kingston Flyer this month

New Zealand's famous vintage steam train, the Kingston Flyer, makes its last stop on April 30th, as the summer season comes to a close for winter maintenance.

Owner David Bryce has announced that the Kingston Flyer is on the market for sale with Tourism Property Brokers Ltd, offering another organization the opportunity to own and operate the Kingston Flyer.

“Operationally it’s a fantastic business and it has become extremely popular,” he said.

“However, I’ve invested a significant amount of money and committed my life to this venture over the past two years and for a number of reasons, including health reasons, I would like to step away and give someone else the opportunity to take the business forward from here.

“I feel I’ve achieved what I set out to do, to get the Kingston Flyer operational after a period of time spent sitting doing nothing, and I hope a new owner will be able to continue our good work.

“It’s disappointing for me to step away, but I firmly believe the Flyer still has a good future and is a good business investment for the right person or organisation.”

Mr Bryce said he will return to his home in Renwick, Marlborough, having lived the past twenty months in Kingston.

The Kingston Flyer operates out of the township of Kingston, near Queenstown on the south shore of Lake Wakatipu, and has attracted thousands of local and international visitors to the town, either to take the one-and-a-half-hour return trip to Fairlight or simply to have a look at the 130-year-old-plus railway.

Mr Bryce ‘rescued’ the Flyer in 2011, after it had been left in a state of disrepair. Its previous restoration was completed by New Zealand Railway in the 1970s and has been used since then, with previously very little effort having gone in to repairs to secure its longevity.

He said he and his staff had put “heart and soul” into the operation and experienced many successes.

“I’ve completed all the major locomotive repairs, investing heavily in restoration of the main locomotive AB795’s boiler, required to maintain its twice daily excursions for the next decade or two,” he said. “The train is in good nick, more efficient than it has ever been, and it remains a living icon of the region and of New Zealand’s rail history.

“When I bought the Flyer I invested in her for longevity, to ensure the future of our history for the community.”

During his tenure, the Flyer has been an integral part of two annual ‘Race the Train’ events and has hosted many successful ‘hold ups’ , where guests are ‘hijacked’ by horse-riding gun-blazing local ‘cowboys’ in a re-enactment of the famous ‘Crunchie Bar’ commercial.

He has initiated the Friends of the Flyer concession card providing cardholders with 50% discount on regular fares. Their support has contributed towards the Flyer’s maintenance costs and upkeep.

Since getting back on track, the Flyer has hosted guests from all around the world, from corporate and business groups, children’s groups, rest home tours to weddings. As a result it has generated high visitor numbers to the town.

Other success stories include raising $5500 for the Stroke Foundation of New Zealand at a special weekend where money was raised from ticket sales and other initiatives.

It was due to a stroke that Mr Bryce first bought the Flyer.

“I suffered a stroke in March 2011 that changed my life completely. It gave me a different perspective.  When I saw the Kingston Flyer for sale, I made it my goal to secure ownership of the train and build the business for the community.”

He said he loved the train and the joy it brought to people, and was disappointed to have to move on.

About The Kingston Flyer
The Kingston Flyer is New Zealand's famous vintage steam train set in the spectacular mountain scenery of the Queenstown Lakes District. When gold was discovered in the Wakatipu district in 1862 the need to connect the district by steamships and steam trains became apparent. The railway line at last reached Kingston on July 10, 1878 and a public holiday was declared by Queenstown Borough and Lake County Councils.

The express passenger steam train known as "The Flyer" serviced Kingston-Gore on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Kingston-Invercargill on Tuesdays and Thursdays from the 1890's. During peak holiday periods she also carried passengers from Dunedin to Kingston to meet up with Lake Wakatipu steamboats connecting with the popular holiday destination of Queenstown.

The service was replaced by buses and passenger numbers declined through the 1950's. The final Kingston Flyer operated during the Easter holiday of 1957. Trains continued to run on the Waimea Plains Railway until 31 March 1971.

The New Zealand Government came up with a plan to save the historic steam train and funded its restoration in 1971. The atmosphere of the 1920's was retained and remains today featuring polished brass and steel work, white tyres, red fluted side rods, and glossy black paintwork.

The Kingston Flyer heritage service between Kingston and Lumsden continued until 1979. Today the service covers a 14km stretch of track between Kingston and Fairlight. The rails are the originals laid in 1878 but many of the 19,360 sleepers have been replaced.

In 2009 the company that previously owned the Kingston Flyer went into receivership with the Flyer’s future uncertain until it was bought by David Bryce in 2011.