Most historical photos of donkey engines that helped revolutionize the logging industry show them with their "clothes on" under a roof. We can see the wood burning steam engine, but not the series of wheels and cables that really made them a workhorse in the woods. I recently ran across a couple of photos that show them "naked".
Photo courtesy University of Washington Libraries, IND0235, n.d.
Both are mounted on skids that can be drug from logging site to logging site. For me, it's all the cables, gears, drums and pulleys that make them interesting.
Photo courtesy University of Washington libraries, IND0207, n.d.
Better hope that one of those cables doesn't snap. Probably not the safest place to be around.
The first photo shows a Puget Sound Iron & Steel Works "Tacoma" donkey built in the late 1890s. The second shows a Washington Iron Works machine built about 1905.
Posted by: John Taubeneck | 08/13/2017 at 06:20 AM
Thanks John!
Posted by: Craig Goodwin | 08/13/2017 at 01:45 PM
Hi John.
Thanks you for giving the name "Tacoma Steam Donkey". I plan to build this machine as a live steam model. I have only two photos of this machine. Do you know where I can find more information and photos of this machine?
I need more photos for the details.
I hope you can take me a little further in my search.
Regards, Loek.
Netherlands, Europe.
Posted by: Loek proper | 12/06/2017 at 07:42 AM
You will find plenty of photos of donkey engines on the University of Washington Digital Collections website. You'll have to send us a picture when you complete your live steam model. Regards
Craig
Posted by: Craig Goodwin | 12/06/2017 at 11:53 AM
Hi Craig.
Thanks you for the info!
When the donkey is ready I definitely send you photos.
Regards, Loek.
Posted by: Loek proper | 12/06/2017 at 01:09 PM