For the first time in almost 20 years, cyclists in next week’s Tour of Southland will go head-to-head with the Kingston Flyer steam train, which dates back 140 years.
The trip, dubbed "Steam and Spokes", will leave Kingston at 10.15am next Wednesday, headed for the Fairlight Railway Station — departure for the return leg will be timed to coincide with riders in the 112km Stage 4 "Queen Stage" of the tour, which starts in Mossburn and finishes about 6km up The Remarkables access road — they’re expected there around 1.30pm.
The goal is to have the cyclists riding alongside the Flyer for about 3km, north of Fairlight.
The last time it happened was 2008.
Kingston Flyer general manager Tom O’Brien said it was great to bring back such an iconic feature of one of New Zealand’s most prestigious cycling events.
"It’s always created a bit of interest, and people seem to come on board, so to speak, and get among the fanfare and the fun of it, because it’s such a unique opportunity.
"It’s probably quite a good PR exercise for the train and the Tour of Southland, and it’s a good opportunity for people to get on the train and cheer people on, and for the cyclists to give it a bit of a nudge when they’ve got the old steam train racing next to them."
There was a lot of logistical planning involved, though.
Race director Waine Harding said cyclists would be briefed ahead of the stage, which left Mossburn at 10.30am.
The Flyer, meanwhile, might get a slight headstart on the riders, to get "a bit of momentum", before the steam engine versus-human race heats up along the Fairlight straight.
Mr O’Brien said the cyclists would likely outpace the Flyer.
"If I was a betting man, I’d say they [the cyclists] will probably blast us out of the water."
That was because, due to the age and width of the tracks, the Flyer was unlikely to go more than about 40kmh, giving passengers plenty of time to cheer on the cyclists as they pass by.
"For the purposes of the tour and the cyclists and the train, it’ll be really cool to be side-by-side and neck-and-neck," he said.
Mr Harding, who has a long association with the Tour and the Flyer — his father-in-law, Wayne McIntosh, was a driver with the late ‘Mr Kingston Flyer’, Russell Glendinning — said he was thrilled the train was back on the tracks for this year’s event.
He was hoping it would be back in action again in November for the 70th tour — two are being held this year after extreme weather forced the postponement of last November’s event.
