Members of Lodge 359 have donated their time to revamp a 1929 steam donkey that is on exhibit at the Industrial Heritage Society's facility in Port Albernie, BC. This facility showcases the industrial legacy in the Port Albernie Valley, and is situated on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Also on display is MacLean Mill, the only steam operated sawmill in Canada.

Boilermaker members Mike Roxburgh, Barry Pyne, Barry Dobrenksy, Bill Rogers, Jorge Vidal and Matt Wallace milled, rolled and beaded over 206 tubes.

The boiler was originally built by the Washington Iron Works and used by the R.B. McLean Lumber Co. in their logging operations in the surrounding Port Albernie area. Steam Donkeys are a steam-powered tugger, or logging engine, widely used in past logging operations. They were also found in the mining, maritime, and nearly any other industry that needed a powered tugger. Steam donkeys were the workhorse in industry right across North America until the end of World War II.

359 member Jorge Vidal said "It was a pure pleasure to be able to work on such an important part of the industrial history of British Columbia and to connect with the Boilermakers that came before us."

For Barry Dobrenksy and Mike Roxburgh, this is the second rebuild in which they donated their skills and time on re-tubing a fire tube boiler - the first one they worked on was in 2013, a 1917 Farquhar steam tractor. Barry Dobrenksy reported "When we were done re-tubing the boiler, it was hydroed then it was passed by the boilers branch and shortly thereafter was running. We supplied them with a complete QA package that was completed by Mike Roxburgh and we also did some weld repairs to the tube sheets. This tractor is now used in steam up demonstrations at the MacLean Mill every summer." Bill Rogers, Brent Pennington and Leon MaCrae, all members of Lodge 359, volunteered their services on this project along with Barry and Mike.

[Click to Enlarge] (Left to right) Barry Dobrensky and Mike Roxburgh with the 1917 Farquhar tractor they restored.

[Click to Enlarge] The Steam Donkey Team - (left to right) Bill Rogers, Mike Roxburgh, Barry Pyne, Barry Dobrenksy, and Jorge Vidal. Missing from the picture, Matt Wallace.

Dobrenksy also said "The Heritage Society is extremely grateful for the Boilermaker expertise and treat us like royalty. In the past they have used others who charged them thousands of dollars which they don't have, and the work was mediocre at best."

Learn more about the Port Alberni Heritage Society

All photos by Jorge Vidal.