Kingston Flyer

While the reported sale of the mothballed Kingston Flyer to another buyer has put a damper on United States rail consortium Railmark's ambitious plans for a Queenstown-based tourism hub, it has not dented its commitment to other New Zealand rail projects.

Mortgagees have listed the historic Kingston Flyer steam locomotive including passenger cars, a station and a tavern for sale on an online auction site.

The chief executive of Railmark - a United States-based global rail consortium interested in buying the mothballed Kingston Flyer - says he can take the 126-year-old vintage steam train "to the next level".

A lobbyist trying to rally political support to buy the 125-year-old Kingston Flyer vintage steam train is worried it will end up in the hands of foreign owners who are trying to "sidestep" Overseas Investment Office regulations.

The future of the Kingston Tavern remains unclear, as the township's pub is tied up in the receivership of the Kingston Flyer operation.

Seven months after it was put up for sale by international tender, the Kingston Flyer steam train still has no buyer.

A campaign by the Southern F Locomotive Trust to buy the Kingston Flyer will be making a new push to raise funds to secure the vintage steam train.

An Invercargill-based campaign to save a piece of New Zealand history gained support in Dunedin this week.

The historic Kingston Flyer steam train will co-star today in the major Bollywood feature film being shot in the Wakatipu, the film company and receiver confirmed yesterday.

The plight of the Kingston Flyer train has sent ripples as far away as the UK, where railway enthusiasts have expressed their concern and willingness to support the train.