Karl Barkley, of Invercargill, campaigns at the Dunedin
Railway Station yesterday for pledges to save the Kingston
Flyer. Photo by Jane Dawber.
An Invercargill-based campaign to save a piece of New
Zealand history gained support in Dunedin this week.
Southern F Locomotive Trust spokesman Karl Barkley was in the
city on personal business but took the opportunity to meet a
range of possible funding bodies, including the Taieri Gorge
Railway, to discuss support to buy the Kingston Flyer.
The trust was established last year to save and preserve rail
heritage in Southland and has been campaigning since early
January to raise money to buy the troubled train.
So far, about $10,000 has been raised, but Mr Barkley said
much more would be needed to outbid six other interested
parties.
Taieri Gorge Railway chief executive Murray Bond said while
their meeting was brief and money was not discussed, he
supported Mr Barkley's goal "100%".
He described the train as a "major drawcard" for tourists to
New Zealand. "Significant cancellations" by rail tourists had
occurred since the venture went into receivership last year.
If the Government knew the "millions of dollars" of lost
income the cancellations had cost the country, it would be
happy to a give "few thousand dollars" to support the
Kingston Flyer, he said.
Mr Barkley returned home yesterday but vowed to continue to
campaign so the train remained "in the hands of Kiwis".
- ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz
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