Jan. 3, 2020
After a busy holiday season the Christmas wreath takes a break on a park bench.
Showing posts with label Dink (Locomotive). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dink (Locomotive). Show all posts
Taking a rest
Jan. 3, 2020
After a busy holiday season the Christmas wreath takes a break on a park bench.
Tree Gallery
July 2, 2019
A charming lineup of trees on canvas drawn by children adorn the locomotive display at the park.
Not that it was all cracked to be
The history of Dink, the locomotive
Henry McCleary had a railroad that climbed the hill going south between present 4th and 5th streets, and then turned west, following the present SR8 to Mud Bay. Some of the railroad beds are still visible. The track was built with labor imported from Japan. In the 1930s the track was dismantled and the metal sold to Japan.
Donkey engine winches
Donated to the City as a display by former Mayor Ted Rakoski (1914-2001).
Ted was a very devoted civic volunteer, active in the VFW, McCleary Museum, city government, etc. One expression of his that I like to repeat as much as I can is, "that really burns my ass when ... [fill in the blank]."
Donkey engines were steam contraptions that drug freshly cut timber with a cable once they were in log form to a central position where they could be stacked and transported. These engines usually rested on giant wooden sleds. Back in the early 20th century these sleds were constructed at the very place were Ted's winches are now on display.
In the background on the right is the kitchen where the bear stew is prepared every year for the Bear Festival. The original kitchen, which was much smaller, was replaced in the late 1980s-early 1990s. About the same time the locomotive "Dink" and the old horse-drawn fire engine were enclosed in a cage. Before that they were just out in the open.
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