[BCMA] Burnaby Village Museum looking for Steam Donkey information.

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Hello Tom,

    In 1974 colleagues and I at the RBCM (then BCPM) borrowed an 1898 spool steam donkey from the Forest Discovery Centre (then BCFM, Duncan) for display on the MUSEUM TRAIN (1974 - 78) flatcar. We had it restored to operating condition through the expertise of Robert Swanson (now deceased),  That donkey is bound still to be in Duncan. The man who serviced it onboard the train was Fred Granger (lost track of him), but there were others either working for the CPR at the Drake Street Roundhouse in Vancouver or connected to the Forest Museum who likely were consulted as to repairs, replacement parts, etc.

    A feature of our operation was providing steam to turn the spool from a line running rear from a boxcar in which we mounted a modern steam generator. (It also served to provide steam forward to the locomotive while the latter sat still at the head of the train during our stops along the line. It also kept the boiler warm).

    This might give you some clues as to where to search now, though the trail I've described is quite cold. 

    Please try contacting Bob Turner by Email at robertdturner at shaw.ca who played a key role for the BCPM in amassing artifacts, etc. for our train. He may well have more recollections than me.

Dan Gallacher
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. 
  To: bcma-l at museumsassn.bc.ca 
  Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 2:31 PM
  Subject: [BCMA] Burnaby Village Museum looking for Steam Donkey information.


  The Burnaby Village Museum is looking for information about Steam Donkeys used in the logging and milling industries.

  We have a donkey engine in our collections and we would like to know if anyone has had the experience of restoring such a machine - mainly the vertical boiler.

  Any other information you might have about Vancouver Engineering Works equipment would be very helpful as well. We do have information that the VEW was manufacturing these engines under liecense from Whillamette Iron and Steel Works in Portland, Oregon

  Description:

  Steam Donkey, made by Vancouver Engineering Works. It consists of a verticle boiler with a fuel tank for oil and two winch drums. The engine, boiler and winch drums are mounted on a steel frame that could in turn be mounted on skids or a deck depending on intended use.

  The gears are protected by covers and a brake is fitted to the winch.

  The engine is a 10 X 15 (10 inch dia. cylinders X 15 inch stroke) and the registration number is 42750.

  TomG

  Tom Gooden
  Assistant Curator 
  Burnaby Village Museum
  6501 Deer Lake Ave.
  Burnaby, BC, V5G 3T6
  tom.gooden at burnaby.ca
  604.297.4559



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