Kingston Flyer Steam Train for Sale Kingston NZ

PROPERTY INFORMATION

NEW ZEALAND TOURISM ICON FOR SALE - FREEHOLD GOING CONCERN - TWO STEAM TRAINS- TWO TRAIN STATIONS AND CARRIAGES - BAR/CAFE/TAVERN AT KINGSTON RAILWAY STATION - REAL ESTATE - DEVELOPMENT SITES

The Business and Properties offered for Sale consists of:

TWO STEAM TRAINS OPERATING AS THE KINGSTON FLYER:  THE KINGSTON FLYER operates 14km scenic rail track that terminates at FAIRLIGHT STATION and the KINGSTON WHARF where the Historic EARNSLAW STEAMER BERTHS. THE KINGSTON FLYER CONSISTS of two NEW ZEALAND built AB PACIFIC CLASS STEAM LOCOMOTIVES; AB 795 [built 1927 - a former ROYAL TRAIN LOCOMOTIVE ] and AB 778 [ Built 1925]  The SEVEN STEAM-HEATED WOODEN CARRIAGES date back to 1898.

THE KINGSTON FLYER JOURNEY:   The Kingston Flyer operates two daily excursions between KINGSTON and FAIRLIGHT. Passengers can take a return journey or a one-way trip in either direction. The Kingston Flyer is also available on a full charter basis for special functions and for groups travelling between Queenstown and Milford Sound or Invercargill. The TRAIN CAN SEAT UP TO 300 PASSENGERS and is a great option for conference and incentive group functions. The Kingston Flyer is able to cater for a variety of group interests such as weddings, corporate functions, incentive groups, tour groups and the travelling public.  

2 RAILWAY STATIONS:   Kingston Station and Fairlight Station which includes a 4.6ha development site.

CAFE-BAR-TAVERN LOCATED AT KINGSTON RAILWAY STATION:  The Cafe Bar Tavern is located within the Kingston Railway Station metres from the KINGSTON FORESHORE. Tourist visitors can have refreshments, food and enjoy the atmosphere this Hospitality Business has to offer. There is ample outdoor dining. 

KINGSTON TOWNSHIP - SOUTHERN END OF LAKE WAKATIPU - QUEENSTOWN - 30 minutes drive to Queenstown, Kelvin Heights, MILLBROOK RESORT and MICHAEL HILL GOLF COURSE. 18 minute drive Jack's Point Development and golf course. THE REMARKABLES SKI FIELD is 18 minutes drive and CORONET PEAK SKI FIELD 30 minutes from Queenstown. Kingston has its own WHARF, BOAT RAMPS AND MOORINGS located 100 metres from the centre of the village. Having the beach on the doorstep is great for water sports, BBQ and family outings. FLY FISHING in the MATAURA RIVER is nearby and FLY FISHERMAN COME FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD TO FISH THESE WATERS. The Township has spectacular views of the Mountains and Lake.

THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A NEW ZEALAND TOURIST ICON BUSINESS

BUSINESS BROKERS COMMENTS: This is one New Zealand's true Iconic tourist attractions which is awaiting a new owner to take this entire business to the next level. It would suit a family or corporate owner who has a flair for marketing and a passion for tourism in the Queenstown region. This business could be ideal to add to an existing business unit in the region.  

FINANCIALS:   Financial and supporting information can be accessed from the download links.

Please note that files containing business sensitive information are password protected.

For further information on the SALE of this TOURISM ICON located  in KINGSTON metres from the LAKESHORES OF LAKE WAKATIPU please contact TOURISM HOSPITALITY & LEISURE BUSINESS BROKER Adrian Chisholm adrian@tourismproperties.com on 021 727 888 or 03 355 22 80

Price is plus GST if any.

www.kingstonflyer.co.nz

FEATURES

In 1982, the Kingston Flyer returned to Kingston. The initial intention was to utilise the remaining 20 kilometres of track between Garston and Kingston, but the decision was made to end the line in Fairlight and the additional six kilometres to Garston were closed. Although the original Flyers had typically been operated by locomotives of the Rogers K and V classes, two AB class locomotives were used for the restored service that commenced in 1971, and they were both transferred to Kingston in 1982. They are 4-6-2 "Pacifics" built in New Zealand:

AB 778 (entered service in 1925)
AB 795 (entered service in 1927 and once pulled the New Zealand Royal Train)
From 2000 until 2003, K 92, a preserved member of the Rogers K class that headed the original Flyers, was based in Kingston and operated services both by itself and together with the AB engines. The rolling stock used on the line consists of seven wooden passenger carriages that date as far back as 1898.
The NZR AB class was a class of 4-6-2 Pacific tender steam locomotive that operated on New Zealand's national railway system. Originally an improvement on the 1906 A class 141 were built between 1915 and 1927 by NZR's Addington Workshops, A & G Price Limited of Thames, New Zealand, and North British Locomotive Works, making the AB class the largest class of steam locomotives ever to run in New Zealand. An additional ten were rebuild from the tank version of the AB - the WAB class - between 1947 and 1957, while another two North British made locomotives were build, but were lost in the wreck of the SS Wiltshire in May 1922.

Reputedly the first engine able to generate one horsepower for every 100 pounds of weight, the AB class was efficient and versatile, and the engines were easy to maintain and operate. Members of the class worked almost every part of the New Zealand rail network, and were used for both freight and passenger trains. The AB class was easily able to pull an express passenger train at speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph), or haul 700-tonne goods trains on easy grades.

A unique feature of the AB class's design is their Vandebuilt tenders, which gave them their unique cylindrical back. Several features of the class, notably their boilers, were used on other NZR locomotives.

The AB class were superseded on principal express trains and heavy freight trains by the K class of 1932 and the J class of 1939, and were relegated to secondary duties. The majority of the class was withdrawn from NZR services during the 1960s, as diesel traction replaced steam, with a few members of the class lasting to the end of steam itself in 1971. Two were retained to operate the Kingston Flyer, possibly New Zealand's most famous heritage railway. The Flyer has now passed into private ownership and it is still run by AB 778 and AB 795. Five more have been preseved by various other preservation societies.

The Kingston Flyer operates seven months of the year, from 1 October to 30 April. Two trains run daily, excluding Christmas Day. It is arguably New Zealand's most famous preserved train.