An original flyer finally comes home
BY SONIA GERKEN IN GORE
Relevant offers
One of the original Kingston flyers has returned home to Mandeville, ready to embark on a new chapter in its 130-year life.
The Rogers K92 arrived on the back of a truck from Kingston, her gleaming brass and woodwork a far cry from the engine that was discovered more than 20 years ago in the Oreti River, where it had been dumped with other old locomotives to combat erosion.
Owned by the Waimea Plains Railway Trust, the Rogers had been based at Kingston but the financial turmoil that has plagued the existing Kingston Flyer prompted the trust to bring her home.
Waimea trust chairman Colin Smith said the return of the train would create the impetus and enthusiasm to get on with raising money to build a display shed, part of a big redevelopment that would ultimately see the restoration of a couple of original carriages and redeveloping part of the old Mandeville railway yard and line.
Mr Smith envisaged a line running around the Mandeville airfield. This would give visitors the unique ability to experience vintage trains as well as aircraft at one venue. In her day, the Rogers was the fastest means of transport from Gore to Lumsden on a stretch of railway line built by wealthy run-holders when the government refused to build one. The locomotive would literally fly the line and was dubbed the Kingston Flyer long before the larger locomotive, known today by the same name, arrived.
Mandeville was the only substantial part of the Waimea railway still left, he said.
- © Fairfax NZ News
Sponsored links
Violent man blames drink for assault
Complex task to overhaul lake gate
Red Cross gives coins to quake volunteers
No, this trip will NOT be cruisy, says ES
It's time to stock up on summer reading
Sweaty socks, shoes, T-shirt stolen
Study of snails goes slowly but surely
City needs better promotion says visitor
Deep south beats rest of nation in jobless
'No danger' from great white - dive firm owner
Lagoon plant life shows sign of revival
Steel cutting costs in bid to stem loss
It's time to stock up on summer reading
No, this trip will NOT be cruisy, says ES
Deep south beats rest of nation in jobless
Deer farm fined for disturbing river
Seeking a smooth transfer of power
Ko a coup for inaugural Pro-Am event
The Clubroom
Your club information portal, post or view your sports fixtures, results and general information.
Community newspapers
Click here to read our free community newspapers from around the region online.
Newest First
Oldest First






