Irish invented battery powered trains 85 years before Tesla | Season 1 – Episode 70

👋 Hey friends! In this video, we are featuring a battery powered train invented by Irish chemist Dr. James J. Drumm.

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Dr. James J. Drumm was an Irish chemist who did advanced research into the development of powerful traction batteries at University College Dublin (UCD).

In 1929, Drumm applied for a patent on an improved alkaline battery which combined many of the advantages of both alkaline and lead-acid cells. The chief feature of this new chemistry was the high charge and discharge rates achieved. In comparison to contemporaries (notably from the Edison Battery Company) the Drumm battery could charge four times as fast, and discharge up to three times as fast, making strong acceleration and regenerative braking.

The Drumm invention was first made public and attracted widespread interest, not just here in Ireland, but across Europe and in the US. Reflecting on Drumm's achievement there were many challenges to confront when developing the traction battery system. For it to be effective it had to:
1. Have a long life
2. Be mechanically robust
3. Have a low upkeep cost
4. Have low weight in relation to its output, for obviously the battery forms part of the haulage load
5. Be capable of giving rapid acceleration which involves rapid discharge
6. Be battery capable of rapidly charged

The Drumm train project was given £27,000 and the Drumm Battery Company was formed. In 1930, a small four-wheeled petrol-driven railcar was modified at the Inchicore rail works, and was outfitted with a 110V battery, as well as two 22kW motors. Trial runs showed that the train could attain a speed of 80 kph (50 mph) within fifty seconds of the start. A speed of 88 kph (55 mph) it is stated, was maintained for the greater part of the journey from Dublin to Bray. In February 1932 the Drumm battery train was charged at Inchicore and went on a test run to Portarlington and back — a total distance of 130 kilometres (80 miles) — on the single charge.

The first train was put into commission which comprised a twin coach double end (driver facilities at both ends) unit 38.4 metres (126 feet) long. The weight of the train with passengers was about 85 tons. There was seating accommodation for 140 passengers. The train could accelerate from standstill and attain speeds of 65 kph (40 mph) to 80 kph (50 mph) with ease. The train was fitted with a successful system of regenerative braking, whereby an important fraction of the energy surge made available on a down-gradient or on de-accelerating at a station was returned to the battery.

A second quickly followed, both becoming part of the Bray-Dublin service travelling the route 10 to 15 times per day. The battery was charged at Amiens Street Station (Connolly Station) and at Bray. The distance is about 23 kilometres (14.5 miles). Four Drumm Battery train units operated successfully on the Dublin to Bray section of the line with occasional runs to Greystones some five miles beyond, from 1932 to 1948.

During 'The Emergency' years (WWII 1939-1945), coal and petrol shortages affected steam locomotive and road transport. This meant that the Drumm trains had increased use. The impact of the war had a knock on effect on the company, as they were unable to source raw materials for the batteries and secure orders for the Drumm Traction Battery system. Electricity shortages also occurred on the Shannon due to low water levels and this affected the Drumm trains. Only peak services were provided and trains did not run between 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday with no services on a Sunday.

By the summer of 1944 the Minister for Industry and Commerce, Sean Lemmas was non-committal about prolonging the life of the Drumm trains.

A decision was taken to withdraw the trains from service on the 12th July 1949, when the last Drumm train left Bray. All four railcars were converted at Inchicore to ordinary passenger stock and were hauled by steam locos. In the mid 1950’s they were withdrawn and replaced by new diesel railcars. These pioneering railcars were scraped between 1957 and 1964.

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Credit: Worldreach PR
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