The Kingston Flyer

I think we might have mentioned in the past how much Hudson LOVES trains.

The movie "Polar Express" is what started it all. Incidentally, it was the first movie which he could watch in it's entirety. Which is saying a lot, because even I can't want a whole movie in one go - especially not that one.

Naturally, for Christmas that year Karl and I got him a wooden train set. His grandparents followed suit, and for his second birthday Hudson got Thomas, along with probably half of the other related characters and more track. It's been Thomas everything around the house, and on the road ever since. In recent weeks, much to my chagrin (ok. not exactly) Thomas seems to be falling out of favour, but the Polar Express is back. In a big way.

Noticing the explosion of trains and train related toys in their home, our hosts Ian and Velda suggested we give the recently re-opened Kingston Flyer a try. Hudson was sold as soon as their website loaded on our computer screen.

We debated on a game of rock, paper, scissors to determine who the lucky chaperone would be this time, but in the end since the weather was kind of meh and there isn't much else to do in the town of Kingston itself (unless you want to sit in the nicely re-done train station and sip their own local wine for and hour and a half, which I suppose you could have twisted my arm into) we both decided we would go. I

n the end, we were kind of glad that we did, because the engine as well as the cars of the Kingston Flyer are beautifully restored and well worth seeing.

Also, because New Zealand steam train operators aren't as concerned paranoid about "safety" as Australia's, we were free to move around from car to car, and when we stopped for a break, Hudson was even allowed to sit in the engine drivers seat and watch the coal being put on the fire. He was in train heaven.

And that wine I mentioned? For a little bit extra we could have had that and a some cheese (which by the way is fantastic in NZ) and fruit right on board with us. Do you think that would fly on the train to St. Jacob's we have back home?

Cheers,
M