Kingston Flyer 'train set' up for sale in New Zealand

A lifesize train set - comprising a 120-year-old steam locomotive, antique carriages, almost nine miles of track and a railway station - is being offered for sale on a New Zealand auction website.

The Kingston Flyer, also a vintage tourist attraction, has been languishing in an uncovered yard since its last owners went into receivership in November 2009, according to a report from the Radio New Zealand.

The historic engine, which started life in the 1890s as a standard passenger train, has also been used as a backdrop or shooting location for several Indian Bollywood films, as well as New Zealand and foreign television commercials in the past.

Auckland-based Kingston Acquisitions, which owned the train and 13 separate titles including land, rail lines and buildings, went into receivership in November 2009, owing at least NZ$4.7 million.

The real estate agent managing the sale, Bob Muir of Ray White Real Estate, said the vintage steam engine has been listed on the internet auction site TradeMe with the price to be negotiated.

The Kingston Flyer began operating as a passenger service between Kingston and the Main South Line at Gore until the mid 1950s.

The portfolio of properties centred around the Historic Kingston Flyer comprise 13 parcels of land situated at the lakeside township of Kingston, around 35 km south of Queenstown on State Highway 6.

The Kingston Flyer itself comprising two locomotives passenger cars, kitchen van and flat top wagons are included for sale.

Muir said some of the titles are linked to the historic Kingston Flyer steam train including a station and tavern, storage shed, railway corridor to Fairlight and Fairlight station

The Flyer is a much-loved part of New Zealand's railway history, and the locals are just willing someone to come along and get it going again, Muir told the Telegraph. This could be a great business opportunity and we have already had a lot of interest, with calls from around the world.

Muir said he has had intense interest in the auction from New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

Buyers will have to pay at least US$1 million to get it going again, according to the Radio New Zealand report.