People often think that with the rapid development of advanced transportation methods, old vehicles like steam trains have become obsolete. However, in the small village of Kingston, New Zealand, steam trains are still quite popular and even romantically beautiful.
In 1860, the South Island of New Zealand saw an influx of merchants, politicians, and immigrants seeking profits from sheep and cattle farming and gold mining. At that time, transportation was limited to slow bullock carts and horse-drawn carriages. As a result, wealthy individuals in the town of Invercargill built the first wooden railway, later extending the tracks to connect Invercargill with the dense forests surrounding Lake Wakatipu, the largest lake in the country, for transporting goods.
By 1878, the railway reached Kingston, a charming village located on the ancestral land of the Māori people, now known as Takerhaka, at the southern tip of Lake Wakatipu. This area boasted roads, railways, and waterways (steamboats), making transportation very convenient. The first trains were the K-Class steam locomotives from America, which could travel quite fast, reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h by 1880. The train carried the cheerful slogan “enjoy the scenery” and was nicknamed the Kingston Flyer for its speed, which was faster than that of birds.
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The Māori People |
Trains in Kingston flourished for decades but began to decline around 1970. The government, unable to cover the costs, decided to cease operations at the end of the 1970s. However, the people of Kingston were determined not to lose this traditional mode of transportation and fought to preserve it. In late 1979, upon hearing that a team was coming to dismantle the trains, the locals rushed to protect them. They held meetings and established the Kingston Steam Train Company to ensure regular transport of goods to Kingston. Thus, the era of the Kingston steam train was safeguarded.
Today, the Kingston Railway Company operates nearly 70 km of track between Kingston and Fairlight, utilizing famous steam locomotives, such as the AB class locomotive. This luxurious train was invented by an engineer from the New Zealand Railways and has been in operation since 1915.
The Kingston train weighs 87 tons, can carry up to 750 tons, and reaches speeds of 120 km/h. The elegant train consists of dining cars, combined cars, freight cars, regular cars, and exhibition cars showcasing beautiful souvenirs and serving Devonshire cream tea. With its full charm, shine, and amenities, evoking a sense of nostalgia and refreshment, the Kingston steam train will likely remain beloved by the local community.
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