Donkey puncher

A Donkey Puncher is the operator of a small steam donkey.

‘Donkey puncher’ at Gyppo logging operations.

A donkey consists of a steam boiler and steam engine connected to a winch mounted on a 'sled' called a 'donkey sled'. The donkeys were moved by simply 'dragging themselves' with the winch line. They were used to move logs, by attaching lines to the logs and hauling them.

A donkey puncher was the machine operator. In later times the donkey puncher was too far away from the end of the line to know what to do, so whistle codes (steam whistles) were employed. The whistle operator was known as a "whistle punk". It was placed between the men attaching the cables ("choker setters"), and the donkey puncher, so that he could see the choker setters. When the cables were attached, a series of whistle blows signaled the donkey to begin pulling and the choker setters to stay out of harm's way.

This is an over simplification of a closely orchestrated ballet, where mistakes were often fatal and good men stood in line for the jobs. Although the steam engine, and its whistle, have been replaced by gasoline and diesel engines, the whistle codes are still used in many current logging operations. The whistle has been replaced largely with airhorns.

External links

• Glossary of Logging terms, Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest, under Donkey puncher and Whistlepunk.