First ever battery train?

[N1]

Right - suspect that what @Taunton is thinking of is the Ferkeltaxi railbuses which were diesel.

Yes, perhaps so. Bundesbahn also had a lot of diesel railbuses in West Germany which looked very similar to their battery ones, some were even exported to Britain.

 

[Gloster]

Yes, perhaps so. Bundesbahn also had a lot of diesel railbuses in West Germany which looked very similar to their battery ones, some were even exported to Britain.

The five Waggon & Maschinenbau railbuses were not a standard German design, but a special design incorporating elements from the Uerdingen vehicles. They did have some visual similarities, but had many technical differences, including a solid underframe.

 

[BrianW]

The press today (31/1/26) is full of stories about Britain's first ever 100% battery powered train operating from this weekend on the Greenford branch. Really? What no recognition for BR's 100% battery powered BEMU that ran on the Ballater branch from 1958, became test train "Gemini" and is now preserved on the Royal Deeside Railway? Not forgetting the Great Southern Railway in Ireland with its Drumm railcars dating back to 1930. This pair achieved significant mileage - over 1.5 million miles between 1930 and 1935 apparently.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jan 2026 ==

Rapid charging is indeed new, but reliable battery electric passenger units have been around for almost a century!

I've just been re-reading my June 1985 edition of Trains Illustrated, Vol XI, No.117, page 284, item titled 'Scottish battery railcars':
'On April 21 the Scottish battery railcar twin-unit began operation on the Ballater branch, making three trips each way daily over the 43-mile Deeside line ... The railcars work the 9.40a.m, 2.45 and 8.25 p.m. from Aberdeen and the 7.15 a.m, 12.45 and 5.20 p.m. fom Ballater. ... The maximum speed of the unit is 60mph ... battery charging equipment has been installed at Aberdeen Joint and Ballater stations.'

Wondering how long the Greenford and Ballater 'shuttles' spend/spent at the stop blocks charging?

I also note, in passing, the observation made in relation to possible 'level boarding' at Old Oak Common (just up the track from West Ealing) that the ex 'Tube train' will not fit there (due to platform curvature?), so perhaps another 'cast off' should be warmed up for wider testing as a possible 'standard' battery train? https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/old-oak-common-level-boarding-for-elizabeth-line-trains.297832/

 

[LickeyIncliner]

June 1985 edition of Trains Illustrated, Vol XI, No.117,

1958 !

 

[BrianW]

1958 !

Indeed-well spotted-had a 'minor' stroke a coupld ofyears ago ...