what is it?
The Drumm Battery Train was an Irish battery electric multiple unit developed in the 1930s which ran successfully in service on the Dublin to 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.
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 94 years ago, in 1932.
- 447 kW is about 5 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
- Seats 140: 3 full city buses (~50 seats each).
- Served for 32 years (1932–1964).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1932
- in service from
- 1932
- retired
- 1964
- status
- retired
- number built
- 4
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- battery
- origin
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- builders
- Unknown builder
- operators
- Great Southern Railways, Córas Iompair Éireann
- top speed
- 97 km/h
- power
- 447 kW
- gauge
- 1,600 mm Irish broad gauge
- formation
- 2–car, articulated
- capacity
- 140 passengers
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q48791527, Wikipedia: Drumm Battery Train (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.