The Invercargill-based charitable trust battling to save the historic Kingston Flyer will be fundraising in Queenstown and Glenorchy from today until January 2.
Southern F Locomotive Trust spokesman Karl Barkley will follow up emails to Queenstown businesses by knocking on doors to drum up support and raise funds towards the $2 million to $2.5 million goal to secure the ownership of the train for a railway heritage group.
Mr Barkley plans to stand out from the crowd by dressing as a steam engine driver at the Glenorchy Races on Saturday as part of the campaign.
"We've got big plans for the Flyer if successful that will put it on the map more than it has been for 35 years," he said yesterday.
"[About] 90% of the passengers are missing the chance to go on the train because they don't even know it's there.
"We want to build a station and platform where the train comes into view by the motorcamp up by the main road, about a 100m from the town, with parking for coaches and campervans to stop there and a museum and restaurant while they wait for the next train.
"The spare locomotive and carriages can sit there gleaming like a living billboard while the other half is operating."
Mr Barkley said Shantytown, near Greymouth, was a template for the trust's vision of the Kingston Flyer - a living heritage tourist attraction that would help retain visitors in the South.
However, there were no costings for the proposal yet.
The seven trustees were waiting to hear from Bayleys Queenstown about the progress of their tender in January.
Receiver Lindsay McClean, of Malloch McClean Queenstown, said yesterday he was in negotiations with seven interested parties, including the trust and Railmark.
The United States-based company was invited to put in a tender, as it had done twice before and was rejected, but instead made an undisclosed offer in a letter to Mr McClean.
"They took the risk there could have been a successful tender," Mr McClean said.
However, because none of the tenders were accepted by the mortgagee, the receiver was talking to all interested parties.
When asked to comment on the legal battle which has erupted over who owns some of the major assets of the Flyer, Mr Barkley said it could work in the trust's favour.
"This could go on for six to 12 months, which is good as far as I'm concerned, as it'll give me time to raise capital."
Mr Barkley said the trust was not asking for people's life savings.
About $1000 had been raised so far, but donations were averaging $115.
Trustees planned to approach community trusts and the Lottery Grants Board to help sustain the business if their tender was successful.
"It's only $25 from 100,000 people and there's 4 million in New Zealand.
"If we want to save the Kingston Flyer we can do it.
"Or we'll do the same in 10 years time when the Americans get sick of it."
