1980: Fuel Fighter 661, Rob Muldoon’s Distracto-Train

August 3, 2019

By AHNZ

This Month in History: Rob Muldoon’s Distracto-Train, August 1980

Also known as ‘Fuel Fighter 661’, the promotional material seems to have gone far and wide. There is even a matchbox promotion which is for sale on Trade Me right now¹.

The ‘Special Energy Test Train’, ‘Auckland – Wellington’ was probably some bullshit PR gimmick reaction to the ‘oil shortage’. To be filed alongside ‘Carless Days‘ and ‘Think Big’. In particular, it would have been a distraction for the Muggles from the State-led economic catastrophe.

I would like to learn more about how this train was supposed to be more efficient and what became of it. Perhaps it was a Monorail?*

Actually there never was or will be an oil shortage; New Zealand had run out of monopoly money to pay for it. Better call it an ‘Oil Shock’ and distribute lots of publicity about some gimmick of a train that’s going to save us all.

I wonder if they anthropromorphised it like ‘Herbie’ or ‘Optimus Prime’ come to save us? I wonder what celebrities might have been on this Auckland to Wellington test drive. Perhaps some All Blacks, The Minister of Transport, Eion Scarrow, and a presenter from Fair Go?

—
* Yes, that’s another The Simpsons ref

1 ‘Right now’, ie this time last year…Image ref. Matchbox; Trade Me user ‘1hospo-ltd’ (Trade Me is one of New Zealand’s greatest museums collections)

Ref. Image; Noel O’Reilly collection; Shared by HARRNZ

Image ref. Railway Poster; Paekakariki Station Museum; nzmuseums.co.nz

Like    Comment     Share