Emotions flow as Kingston Flyer back on track
NEWS of the Kingston Flyer’s sale sparked tears and applause in Kingston and surrounds yesterday as the local community soaked up the news.
There was a round of applause at longtime Flyer driver and manager Russell Glendinning’s funeral in Lumsden, while Flyer advocate Karl Barkley, who set up a Givealittle page to buy the trains, said he shed tears after learning it had finally been sold.
The $2 million sale to an unknown group, which the
Otago Daily Times understands is not Kingstonbased, was the talk of the town yesterday.
Mr Barkley said his biggest regret was not being able to celebrate the good news with Mr Glendinning. ‘‘I think Russell knows, though.’’
Two steam locomotives, vintage carriages, the former Kingston Tavern, storage sheds, 14km of track and other undeveloped land totalling 80ha are included in the sale.
Mr Barkley said the train should be run as a tourist attraction in the district.
‘‘There’s been a lot of talk about breaking it up and selling it off — you just can’t do that.’’
Kingston resident Annabelle Wilson, who worked as a guard on the Flyer 25 years ago, was cautiously optimistic.
She was ‘‘stoked’’ the trains would not be left to sit idle and decay, and urged the business community to get behind any venture.
TourismProperties.com broker Adrian Chisholm told Mountain Scene on Wednesday the new owners had yet to confirm their plans, but were ‘‘keeping all their options open’’.
They included building a movie studio on vacant land between Kingston and Fairlight.
Ms Wilson said she hoped the Flyer would be restored to the tourist attraction it once was, but had some caveats. ‘‘I just hope that if it does start up again, it will be economically viable.’’
If it did not return to the tracks, putting it on static display in the township was preferable to seeing it leave the region.
Previous owner Kingston Acquisitions Ltd was placed in receivership in 2008 by Prudential Mortgagee Nominees after defaulting on its $4.7 million loan.
In 2009, the ODT reported there was not enough money to operate the train for that summer’s tourist season, despite group bookings confirmed for two years in advance.
The trains, land and assets were placed on the market in November the same year.
David Bryce bought the assets in 2011 and spent $1.3 million restoring the engines and carriages before relaunching the operation.
Less than two years later, he put the business back on the market with an asking price of $2.5 million.
ST JOHN staff formed a guard of honour for Kingston Flyer driver Russell Glendinning following his memorial service in the Lumsden Memorial Hall.
The man who turned the Flyer into an attraction known around the world died on Tuesday and hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects yesterday.
Friends, family and Lumsden residents packed the hall for the service, during which Mr Glendinning was remembered as a kind, funny and loyal man.
Celebrant Peter Gibson said people from all over the world had sent messages of condolence.
Many of Mr Glendinning’s friends and family shared tales of his early years, his dedication and involvement in the community and his time spent
on the railways.
More than a dozen St John staff attended the service, in uniform.
St John representative Kelvin Perriman said Mr Glendinning volunteered for St John for more than 40 years and took on many roles in that time.
He estimated Mr Glendinning spent more than 150,000 hours volunteering for St John.
‘‘He would always be available.’’ After the service, friend ShirleyAnne Monaghan said the number of people who made the trip to Lumsden for the service was a testament to Mr Glendinning. The humble and modest man touched many people’s lives, she said.
His 49yearlong career in the railway industry started when he was 14, scrubbing toilets and tackling other tasks.
Mr Glendinning earned his engine driver’s ticket at the age of 22, launching him into a career that would take him around Otago and Southland.
He started his journey with the Kingston Flyer in 1971 when it became a tourist attraction, and in 1975 he was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to tourism and railways.
It was announced yesterday the steam train had been bought by a consortium of local investors, much to the delight of the people gathered at yesterday’s service.
Many friends said he had always had an interest in trains, often commenting he had done what he wanted to do since he was 5 — drive trains.
Mr Glendinning retired from the Flyer on April 29, 2002, an event celebrated with a special run of the train.