All aboard the restored Flyer

Mandeville’s Waimea Plains Railway is the heart-warming, happy outcome for the Rogers K92, an original Kingston Flyer steam engine that spent 58 years ignominiously buried in a stopbank in the Oreti River, near Lumsden.

Built in 1877 in New Jersey, after doing sterling service on the Christchurch to Dunedin line, it was one of three locomotives speeding passengers and freight at up to 100kmh between Kingston and Invercargill, and across the Waimea Plains from Kingston to Gore.

General wear and declining passenger numbers, exacerbated by the Depression, led to the engines being written off in 1926, and dumped into the river as part of flood prevention works.

In 1985, three days of digging led to the rusted and sorry-looking K92 being disinterred from the stopbank.

After more than a decade of dedicated restoration by railway buffs, the engine was taken over by the Waimea Plains Railway Trust and is now once more a vision in shiny black paint and polished brass and copper.

It’s the star of the Mandeville heritage railway precinct at the Mandeville Aerodrome, a 10-minute drive from Gore. Track has been laid for the train to show off its paces and a loop track of 2.5km is planned around the airfield.

Why go?

For the simple thrill of hearing the unmistakable chuff-chuff of a steam engine and the stirring squeal of its whistle. Although the present track is relatively short, every metre is memorable, sitting in a vintage carriage in all its polished glory.

The cheerful staff are keen to show off the cab’s display of dials, wheels and handles.

Insider tip

For $25, you can ride along in the engine’s cab for an up-close view of the locomotive’s operation.

On the way/nearby

Have a good look around the adjoining Croydon Aviation Heritage Museum. This is where Colin Smith and his team painstakingly restore vintage aircraft for aviation enthusiasts, taking them from fragile-looking bare frames to shiny, air-worthy perfection. Exhibits include Smith’s recreation of the plane-bicycle hybrid designed by Bert Pither in 1910, and a sleek and modern-looking Aermacchi.

You can even get togged up in leather flying jacket, helmet and goggles, and be taken up in a Tiger Moth.

How much?

The train ride costs $5 an adult and $2.50 a child for an all day pass. Entry to the Aviation Museum is $12 an adult, $10 for students/ seniors and children under 13 are free.

Best time to go

Summer opening hours are 9.30am to 4.30pm daily. Time your visit to coincide with one of the special events at the Aviation Heritage Centre, open daily from 10am-4pm. The train runs 10am-3pm one weekend a month until the end of summer.