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Washington Iron Works (WIW) Compound Geared Yarder No. 1619- built circa 1909
We are pleased to have this Donkey to restore and place as an exhibit in the Paradise Exhibition Park. One possible location is to site the donkey in the woods next to our train, to commemorate that yarders such as this were used to clear Paradise Valley of trees for its current agricultural use.
The Steam Donkey became available in 2012, and we'd like to restore and display it in 2020. It is currently stored 1 km north of the Farmers Market near McLeod Road.
The 6' x 12' metal frame would be installed on a sled formed by two 33' logs, and would be painted black. Width would be about 9', height 12'.
Siting One location could be as shown here; near the exit gate. Other locations in the park may be equally good or better.
Some Background
We re-attached the engine on March 12 photos here
Soon we'll build a sled for it, then do some welding repair, and move it to a new site yet to be selected.
see the detailed project planning sheet here
Read the background on the steam donkey here
The Donkey was moved in May next to the sled-logs location
Feb 2016: Tom Sparks made a template of a bracket to mount the detached engine back on the frame. photos here
We have the logs for the sled on the building site. WFP donated the logs for the sled; Marta Trucking moved them to the build site; we have the 4 bolts.
Julian Welp has been contacted and invited to lead the chainsaw group to make the sled.
check the video below
see the detailed project planning sheet here
Boiler/firebox cylinder is about 9 feet tall, 5 feet in diameter.
"Compound" has to do with the gearing of the drums; an extra gear to facilitate slower rotation for the main drum; permitting a large core (easier on the cables) with a fast rewind for the rewind drum.
more about compound gearing here
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from John: What is with the snazzy blue and silver paint job on #1619 anyway? df: Beats me, John - we're hoping for info on the yarder's history.
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Crosshead guide is about 24" long.
10 1/2" stroke x 10 1/4" piston head diameter.
Exterior dimensions of the engine cylinder 15" long, plus 1" end caps.
more Yarder No. 1619 photos here
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We have the missing engine, ready to weld back on.
All items we are repatriating from Burnaby; (the Sawmill, Steam Donkey and Ross Lumber Carrier) have arrived in Powell River, and are stored at Catalyst Paper.
PRFHS is assisting the project lead, PR Historical Museum, in the next planning steps.
Some PRFHS and PRHMA members visited the stored equipment June 8; photos here
Stephen James share two links that help visualize presentation possiblities:
- https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9_wdRkxT7GI/maxresdefault.jpg picture
- http://www.climaxlocomotives.com/sawmills/ information
In April 2016, while landscaping the improved logger sports site next to the Forestry Museum, the Logger Sports volunteers unearthed a railroad tie plate. About 15" long, it was probably used in a railroad track switch. It features a 7" wear plate for the switch points, pressed or hammered out from the flat iron stock (this was way before welding). It held very light rail: only 3 1/2" at the base, indicating about 50 lb/yard rail.
It could have come from the nearby Michigan Landing railroad log dump that operated from 1910 to 1918, or from some other local location when fill was brought in to build the original logger sports site.
The artifact will be turned over to the Forestry Museum.
Clearly we haven't found "the last spike" as surmised here. We found one while digging culverts in late March.
After an 11 year absence, Logger Sports are happening again July 16-17, 2016
Their facebook page has the latest information (click)
view our logger sports photos here
The amphitheatre seats will be a wonderful legacy from Logger Sports 2016. It will reverse the viewing angle from previous events by 180 degrees; the ocean will now be the backdrop.
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