Drumm Battery Trains

[Maitland]

I picked up a fascinating booklet recently. It shows no publisher, ISBN number or publication date, though from internal evidence it's after 1994 and the author is Roddy King. Publication was "supported by the Electricity Supply Board".

It gives a potted history of the Drumm train development, from information given by Brian Hogan, apparently the last survivor of the development team. Development started much earlier than the brief mentions it gets in normal histories, and the idea of battery vehicles was satirised in Dublin Opinion (what was that)?)  in 1927. The GSR supported development enthusiastically, assisting in the conversion of a 4 wheeled inspection carriage with end windows into a battery- electric car - "Experimental Coach no 386 Drumm Patent". Trials from August 1929 proved the concept, and the Government supported the construction of two full- scale trains after commissioning an independent report.

A few questions- who was (is?) Roddy King? Can the inspection carriage be identified? And what became of Dr Drumm after the collapse of the Drumm Battery Company when further development became impossible in the Emergency? He lived apparently till 1974.

It's a real pity the battery design was forgotten. It seems to have several characteristics that might have been useful today. It doesn't flare like a lithium battery in an accident or through mis- charging (Though as with any powerful battery, a short circuit can set fire to anything flammable within range). It can withstand short circuits without damage. It's made of cheap and readily available materials. It can charge very fast, and source high currents without damage. Maintenance is simple. And it is obviously rugged - the sets lasted over 5 years after the demise of the company that made them.

 

 

[Mol_PMB]

Many thanks, very interesting. 
Is there any info on the numbering of the sets in later life, or of their period of usage as hauled stock? 
I’m trying to reconcile the vehicles listed in the 250x series in the 1961 carriage register with the original set letters. 

[murrayec]

The book was by Roddy Ring.....

More info on a google search 'Drumm Battery Train'

and 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drumm_Battery_Train

 

Edited 4 hours ago by murrayec