heirflick Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 came across this accident report on a Drumm Battery Train back in 1935 while she on trials - great reading! I wonder if this contributed to their short life? http://www.rsc.ie/publications/accident-report-drumm-battery-train-25061935/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garfield Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 The crash didn't have anything to do with their withdrawal... that was down to economics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DERAILED Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 The crash report is something else - cut to the chase, no pages of waffle. The lack of innovative projects like Drumm trains on Irish railways today is one of my pet annoyances. In the days of the Drumm train they recharged at night. Today, presumably, battery technology has improved, there's excess capacity in the grid at night that could be utilised but has there been any interest in the technology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayner Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 My father great man for conspirancy theoies used to say that the Drumm Trains were "sabotaged" off the rails. I am not sure if he was thinking about the Sandycove de-railment or the DUTC shutting down Drumm train operation when it took over the GSR The whole saga of the Drumm Trains seems to have been initially tied up with the Shannon Scheme the ESB providing special discounted electricity rates and the Dail voting substantial money for battery development for trains A&B. Things had changed by the mid 30s with the ESB charging the standard rate and the GSR taking on the entire risk in building the final Drumm Battery Trains C&D. C&D introduced 1939 only lasted less than 10 years in service. C&D had a much more modern appearance compared to the earlier units with rounded cabs and steel framed bodies similar in styling to the Bredin main line and suburban coaches. The main draw back seems to have been short battery life (difficulty in obtaining nickel) though services were also affected by restricted ESB hydro generating capacity during the Emergency Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minister_for_hardship Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 (edited) The ESB brought out a commemorative booklet a few years ago, there was a piece in it when one of the first Drumm sets was demonstrated to Dev and govt big-wigs, the meet and greet was cut short, hence the batteries didn't get enough time to recharge fully. The technicians weren't 100% sure whether the unit would make it back to Dublin or stall before reaching its destination. In the event it got back (just about) rolling in under gravity alone for the last few yards. Interesting mentioning sabotage and conspiracy theories, the big GSWR compound Sir William Goulding was alledged to have been tampered with, performance-wise, to make the so-so new 400 class look better. Edited October 10, 2014 by minister_for_hardship Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heirflick Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 lets relive the past.... .....they really were lovely looking trains for the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayner Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 .....they really were lovely looking trains for the time. Its a pity there seems to be nothing on the web on C & D of 1939 similar in styling to the LMS articulated railcar set of the same year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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