Kingston Flyer - relocated to Southland

Vintage Tourist Train 1981/1982

1981/1982 Kingston Flyer timetable

Enjoy the Foveaux Walk or the Glory Track-Bluff

Name, Locomotive, Carriages and Refreshment Carriage

Shopping

The Kingston Flyer was an express train from Invercargill to Kingston, at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu which operated from the 1890s until 1957, although from 1937 until 1957 it largely operated only during holiday seasons. It was revived by the Railways Department in 1971 as a tourist operation, so that NZR still had its own operating steam train. It was introduced alongside the more general upgrade of major long-distance passenger trains such as the Southerner and the Silverstar. It is a remarkable case of the Railways Department catering for a purely tourist joyride rather than transport, and it is the only train from the 1970s which remains in service.

The restored vintage Kingston Flyer operated from Lumsden to Kingston over summer seasons, with one of the trains carrying freight largely destined for Queenstown and local farms.  A flood in 1979 saw part of the line badly damaged, and as local freight traffic had largely disappeared when the distance limit of road freight competition was increased from 40 miles to 150km in 1978, it was decided to relocate the Kington Flyer to Invercargill.  This leaflet promotes the Kingston Flyer services between Invercargill and Bluff and Invercargill and Wairio for 1981 and 1982. Neither line had any regular passenger service at the time. The Bluff Branch having lost passenger services in 1967.

The holiday services from Invercargill were of local interest and of interest to rail enthusiasts, not least because passenger services on those lines were unusual, but it was clear that it was not able to attract the level of tourist interest as the train had at Kingston (given Kingston's proximity to Queenstown). 

In 1982 the Kingston Flyer was relocated back to Kingston, shortly before the Mossburn Branch was closed (due to the end of major freight traffic on the line), as it enabled the train to be taken to Lumsden by  rail. The Kingston Flyer restarted from Kingston, but only to Fairlight.  That is the extent of the line to this day, although the tourist service has had a varied history ever since. NZRC sold it in 1984 and it was bought back by NZ Rail Ltd in 1992 it was ultimately sold by Toll Rail in 2003 and is now a separate private operation.  

The description of the service is that it had capacity of 165 passengers, it describes some features of carriages being authentic, but the seating is foam-padded vinyl.  It is noted that embossed ornamental ceilings and gaslights are not strictly authentic.  The refreshment carriage was apparently built for Cabinet Ministers to travel on the "main trunk" (presumably North Island?).  It has seating for 46 with a buffet counter.  Liquor listed is bourbon, bacardi, brandy, gin, sherries, scotch, vodka, ales and lagers, as well as lemonade, Coca Cola and other soft drinks.  Souvenir matches are available and a range of gifts such as bottle openers, cuff links, key rings, pennants, playing cards, postcards, shoulder badges, teaspoons and t-shirts. A commemorative tie-clip featuring an Ab class locomotive. Food appears to be limited to confectionary, peanuts, potato chips and there are, of course, cigarettes. 

Today's Kingston Flyer is available here.