A surprise ride back in time.

 

According to our itinerary, we were due to visit a sheep station (ranch) today on our way to Queenstown.  We didn't make it though.  Apparently, the place has recently changed ownership and the new owner's wife chose not to host bus tours.  

Our leaders took the news in stride.  Instead, we found ourselves doing something completely different. 

I thought we were merely pulling over to make a pitstop, so to speak, but instead, we found ourselves on a journey into the past.  Take a look.

Hey, look, it's an antique steam engine on display.  

I hadn't realized yet, (duh) that we were going to go for a ride.  I was simply walking around it taking pictures.  

Hey, there's Jeanne aboard the train.  This isn't just a photo-op, this is a ride!  I had better get aboard too.  

I made it, and we were off just moments later.  

  Jeanne is up ahead signaling to me that she has found some empty seats.  

Everything is original.   

We're up close to the engine and looking forward in this shot.  

Let's go for a walk...

We're at the end of the line turn around point.  Oh boy, there are souvenirs inside.   

Coffee tastes twice as good out of such a mug.  

It backed up onto this siding.  We'll begin our return trip soon.  

Zooming into the distant peaks just before we returned to our starting point.  

Our ride on the Kingston Flyer, there and back, took about two hours.  It was a delightful surprise.  Besides souvenirs at the station turn around, there were snacks and coffee and restrooms.  What more could travelers want?  

And we didn't have to off-load horses as they used to do to continue our journey, our bus was waiting to take us the rest of the way to Queenstown.  

See you next week.   -djf