Queenstown and Southland were on Saturday united in the small township of Kingston, in celebration of the long-awaited return of vintage steam train the Kingston Flyer.
More than 1000 passengers took to the tracks on Saturday's five sold-out trips, with the same again in hopefuls and well-wishers adding to the day's festive atmosphere.
The train had been sitting unused and uncared-for for two years, after its previous owners went into receivership in November 2009, owing $4.7 million.
Enter Marlborough vineyard owner David Bryce, formerly of Luggate, who stepped up in August, purchasing the operation with the aim of bringing it back to life.
Standing on the side of the Flyer, next to the station's reopened bar and cafe, Mr Bryce welcomed the gathered crowd to tremendous cheers.
"It's a special day for everyone, and without my team and supporters I doubt we would have made it," he said, thanking operations manager Russell Glendinning, in particular.
He then handed over proceedings to deputy prime minister and local MP Bill English, who cut the red tape declaring the Kingston Flyer "re-fired".
The former driver, Mr Glendinning had seen the train change hands five times, so was "used to it, the reopening", but said it was "fantastic" to have it running again.
As the first trip departed, those gathered in Kingston gave it a lively send-off, with spectators converging along the track and motorists pulling off the road to wave.
Later, sitting in a carriage full of friends and family, Mr Bryce told the Otago Daily Times it was "overwhelming" to have made it thus far in so little time.
"Considering it was only five months ago I saw it on TradeMe, to get to this stage, through a few hurdles at the beginning, it's all come together really well."
The support shown by the community for the Flyer had been "enormous", said Mr Bryce, with plans to establish a trust for the train now "in progress".
Mr English later took the opportunity to launch his Clutha-Southland re-election campaign, posingin front of a National billboard in Fairlight, with the Flyer in the background.
"In the next 10 years, higher incomes for New Zealanders, and my constituents, are going to depend on the success of the competitive exporters that we have in our electorate, and on rebuilding tourism, which has taken a few hits," Mr English said.
"This [the Kingston Flyer] just shows you that despite tough times in the industry, people are willing to take risks, and we want to back those people."
Further trips ran on Sunday, for those who missed out the day before, with more trips scheduled for this weekend.
