The famous Kingston Flyer is back after ceasing operations in 2013 after a change of ownership. Ab 795 was in steam with four carriages for a special charter for the 2022 FRONZ Conference held in Invercargill.
The Flyer has been in operation from 1971, originally running along the route from Kingston, located at the bottom of Lake Whakatipu near Queenstown, to Lumsden, and was operated by the New Zealand Railways - making it the last remaining steam operation in the country at the time.
However after storm damage in 1979, the line was closed, but eventually reopened to Fairlight in 1982 - 14 kilometres from Kingston.
Since then, the Flyer has changed ownership many times through the likes of TranzRail, Kingston Flyer Limited, Toll NZ, and many other private owners.
The Kingston Flyer and all associated land and buildings was sold to a local consortium in 2017 that has retained the name Kingston Flyer Limited. Since this time the local consortium has been working to complete the restoration works required to the locomotives and rolling stock and the maintenance works required to the existing rail tracks to allow for the continued use of the heritage steam railway as a tourist attraction.
The railway was officially back for private charters in 2021.
From a personal perspective, this was the my first train ride as a kid, and it's great to see it going again!
**Disclaimer**
The introduction audio does not belong to me and is from the famous "A Train for Christmas" film. The voice is of Russell Glendinning, who was an instrumental figure in the Flyer's operation, until his passing in 2017.
Link for the film is here;
• A Train for Christmas ...
thekingstonflyer.nz/