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THE STORY OF THE DRUMM BATTERY TRAIN

Roddy Ring

This privately produced publication, with no obvious publisher or copyright notice, details the history of the development and use of the Drumm Battery train, which were used on the two lines between Bray and Dublin (Amiens Street and Harcourt Street).

The batteries, so named after their inventor, Dr. Drumm, were an Irish invention and were put into trial use on the GSR. The GSR, as the most likely beneficiary of this new technology, gave assistance in the form of space in Inchicore works to develop the initial batteries and fit same to a trial vehicle.

Initial tests proved positive and a semi state company was formed to develop the technology further (at this stage, GSR was a private sector company). The company was wound up during the Emergency (WW2) when the war made it impossible to obtain supplies to keep the batteries operating. Shortly after the war, the units had their batteries removed and were converted to loco hauled stock.

Irish Rail's commitment to its heritage can be shown by its demolition of the charging plant at Bray, until this act of wanton vandalism, the only visible remains of this system.



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