Michael Moohan
Encyclopedia
Michael Moohan was a New Zealand
politician of the Labour Party
.
, Ireland
he served in the British Army
in World War I
, and emigrated to New Zealand in 1919. In 1923 he married Cecilia Hayman; they had one son and four daughters.
from 1946 to 1967, when he died. He was the Minister of Railways
in the Second Labour Government
from 1957 to 1960.
to Auckland
on the North Island Main Trunk, taking 11 hours and 45 minutes, or 2½ hours less than the steam-hauled Night Limited. As the train of a brake van, three first-class cars and a Ministerial car at the rear only weighed 147 tons, and was hauled by two Dg
locomotives, the time was somewhat disappointing. The return trip two days later behind a single Da
locomotive was slightly quicker at 11 hours and 34 minutes, though the superior Da could not then run through the tunnels north of Wellington and the two Dgs took over at Palmerston North. The train reflected Moohan’s idea of a fast and comfortable intercity service later seen in the Silver Star and Silver Fern
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician of the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
.
Early life
Born in Garrison, County FermanaghGarrison, County Fermanagh
Garrison is a small village near Lough Melvin in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The Roogagh River runs through the village. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 357 people...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
he served in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and emigrated to New Zealand in 1919. In 1923 he married Cecilia Hayman; they had one son and four daughters.
Member of Parliament
He was the Member of Parliament for PetonePetone (New Zealand electorate)
Petone is a former Parliamentary electorate in the lower Hutt Valley of New Zealand, from 1946 to 1978.-Population centres:The electorate is based on the southern part of the city of Lower Hutt.-History:Petone electorate existed from 1946...
from 1946 to 1967, when he died. He was the Minister of Railways
Minister of Railways (New Zealand)
The Minister of Railways was the minister in the government responsible for the New Zealand Railways Department 1895–1981, the New Zealand Railways Corporation 1981–1993, and New Zealand Rail Limited 1990–1993...
in the Second Labour Government
Second Labour Government of New Zealand
The Second Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1957 to 1960. It was most notable for raising taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and petrol, a move which was probably responsible for the government lasting for only one term....
from 1957 to 1960.
Moohan Rocket
On 16 February 1960 a special ministerial train dubbed the Moohan Rocket made a trip from WellingtonWellington City
Wellington City Council is a territorial authority in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Wellington city extends as far north as Linden, and includes the rural areas of Makara and Ohariu. It is New Zealand's third-largest city, behind Auckland and Christchurch.Wellington attained city status in...
to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
on the North Island Main Trunk, taking 11 hours and 45 minutes, or 2½ hours less than the steam-hauled Night Limited. As the train of a brake van, three first-class cars and a Ministerial car at the rear only weighed 147 tons, and was hauled by two Dg
NZR DG class
The NZR DG and DH class locomotives were a class of diesel-electric locomotives used on New Zealand's national rail network, built by English Electric.- Introduction :...
locomotives, the time was somewhat disappointing. The return trip two days later behind a single Da
NZR DA class
The NZR Da diesel-electric mainline locomotive class ran on the New Zealand railway system between 1955 and 1989. With 146 locomotives, it was the most numerous class to operate in New Zealand, just five more than the AB class steam locomotive....
locomotive was slightly quicker at 11 hours and 34 minutes, though the superior Da could not then run through the tunnels north of Wellington and the two Dgs took over at Palmerston North. The train reflected Moohan’s idea of a fast and comfortable intercity service later seen in the Silver Star and Silver Fern
NZR RM class (Silver Fern)
This article is about the New Zealand railcar service and the railcars themselves. For other uses, see Silver Fern .The NZR RM class Silver Fern is a class of railcar in New Zealand. The three air-conditioned and sound-proofed 723-kW 96-seater diesel-electric twin-set railcars were built by...
.