Drumm Battery Train
{{Short description|Irish electric trainset}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Irish English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox train
| background = #FF7E00
| name = Drumm Battery Train{{cite book|title=Locomotives of the GSR|pages=308–317|section=Battery electric powered units - Drumm Electric Multiple Units|isbn=9781906578268|last1=Clements|first1=Jeremy|last2=McMahon|first2=Michael|date=2008|publisher=Colourpoint Books}}
| image = Drumm_battery_train_D.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Drumm train D at Bray
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| service = 1932–1949
| manufacturer =
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| factory = Inchicore
| family =
| replaced = Steam locomotives and carriages
| yearconstruction = 1931 and 1938
| yearservice = A and B, 1932
C and D, 1939
| refurbishment =
| yearscrapped = A and B, 1956/7
C and D, 1964
| numberconstruction =
| numberbuilt = 4
| numberservice =
| numberpreserved =
| numberscrapped = 4
| predecessor =
| successor =
| formation = 2–car, articulated
| fleetnumbers = A, B, C, D
| capacity = 140 passengers/set
| operator = Great Southern Railways
CIÉ Railways Division
| depots =
| lines = Dublin Amiens Street-{{rws|Bray}}
Dublin Harcourt Street-Bray
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| maxspeed = {{convert|60|mph|km/h}}
| weight = 85 tons/set
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| traction =
| engine =
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| traction motors = 2
| poweroutput = 600hp
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| aux =
| powersupply = 272 Ni-Zn cells, series connected, 460-V. Drumm battery
| hvac =
| electricsystem =
| collectionmethod = Pantograph, for battery charging, supplied by DUTC
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| bogies =
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| multipleworking = Up to 2 units with intermediate unpowered trailer
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| gauge = {{RailGauge|1600mm|allk=on}}
See Rail gauge in Ireland
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}}
The Drumm Battery Train was an Irish battery electric multiple unit developed in the 1930s which ran successfully in service on the Dublin to {{rws|Bray}} route. The train's batteries were charged via an overhead pickup at the turnaround station.
The train was a successful implementation of the battery developed by Dr James J. Drumm.
Background
Dr James J. Drumm developed the traction battery in the late 1920s and was supported by the Irish Government as a means of using the excess electricity generated by the Shannon hydroelectric scheme.
Prototype
A prototype was developed by converting petrol railcar 386 to Drumm traction Battery operation.
Construction
Unit A was constructed at Inchicore railway works in 1931 shortly followed by unit B.
Units C and D were constructed in 1938.
Performance
The units had a maximum operating range of {{convert|40|mi|km}} as demonstrated by a test run to {{rws|Portarlington}} in 1932.{{cite book|title=Innovators in Battery Technology: Profiles of 95 Influential Electrochemists|last=Desmond|first=Kevin|isbn=978-0786499335|publisher=McFarland & Co|date=30 June 2016|pages=62–64}} The recharge time was about 1 minute for each mile to be covered, that is about 15 minutes for Dublin to Bray which could be covered in about 20 minutes nonstop. The geared maximum design speed of units C and D were {{convert|47|mph|km/h}} though {{convert|60|mph|km/h}} was touched on an inaugural run and even {{convert|72|mph|km/h}} has been claimed in service.
Trials
Several inaugural runs were held in late 1931 including a trip with President Cosgrave on 2 December 1931.{{cite web|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/a-revolution-of-transport|title=A Revolution Of Transport|first=British|last=Pathé|publisher=|access-date=10 December 2016}}
Service
Withdrawal
The units were withdrawn in 1949 due to the batteries becoming life expired and cheaper alternatives available.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/an-irishman-s-diary-1.616233|title=An Irishman's Diary|date=1 February 2010|access-date=20 October 2017|publisher=The Irish Times|last=Oram|first=Hugh}} The batteries and electrical equipment were removed continuing in service as diesel hauled carriages until 1955. They were stored on a siding at Foxrock until being scrapped.{{cn|date=July 2020}}
Incidents
At about 22:00 on 25 June 1935 the Drumm Battery "A" train collided about {{convert|250|yd|m}} south of Dún Laoghaire with a collapsed wall resulting from a burst storm sewer during a storm and associated heavy rain. There were two fires in the battery chambers with arcing and considerable heat generated but only charring to the coach body.
Models
A handbuilt model of the Drumm Train is in the Fry Model Railway collection. The model correctly depicts the unit articulated bogie however the front end cab modelling would seem to be proposal for the C and D units but not the actual design used. This is reasonable as Cyril Fry the creator was a draughtsman at Inchicore Works where the units were designed and constructed and would have had access to such drawings.
Further reading
- {{cite journal|last=Scannell|first=James|date=2002|title=The Drumm Battery Railcars, 1932-1949
|journal=Dublin Historical Record|volume=55|issue=2|pages=181–195 |publisher=Old Dublin Society|jstor=30101349}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
|url=https://www.crr.ie/download/pdf/reportaccidentdrummbatterytrain.pdf|df=dmy-all}}
}}
External links
{{External media|float=right|topic=Drumm Battery Train
|image1=[https://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/news-photo/view-of-the-drumm-battery-train-on-the-tracks-ireland-news-photo/537738788 Drumm Battery train unit A. The later C and D units had a very different cab design] Retrieved 19 February 2019
|image2=[http://www.ucd.ie/merrionstreet/1930_drumm.html Tramcar conversion used to test and develop the Drumm battery]
}}
- {{YouTube|hAHLBhxGhnE|Revolutionary Electrical Invention (1930)}}
- {{YouTube|p9jFA3fKG6c|A Revolution Of Transport (1931)}}
{{Ireland Multiple Units}}