Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2019.012.011j |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Description |
Black and white photograph of, "Samson", the No. 25. Samson is a 1-Vulcan steam locomotive, weighing at 18 tons and is a 4 wheeler. Its construction Number is 1549. "c. 1910" is written on the back of the photograph, which is likely referring to the year Samson was built rather than when the photograph was taken. Stamped on the back of the photograph: "W.R. Swanson 5729 27 Ave. N. E. Seattle 5, Wash." |
Image File Name |
unk - Samson - Deerholme - 2019012011j - jpg72 - 001 |
Date (y/m/d) |
1910/ / |
Place |
Deerholme |
Provenance |
Samson was built in 1910 with a construction number of 1549. The locomotive was first purchased by the Grant Smith & Company, a construction contractor based in Leavenworth and Spokane WA. In 1920, Samson was then purchased by the S.S. Magoffin Construction from the Vancouver Machinery Depot and used it to construct the Great Northern Railway (now CNR) grade through the Fraser Canyon, and later on to transport fill for the construction of North Vancouver’s harbour facilities. It was overhauled by Vancouver Machinery Depot in 1926. Saw very little service afterwards. In 1955, Gerry Wellburn purchased it and saved it from being scrapped. He used it on his property in Deerholme. In 1964, Samson was donated to the Cowichan Valley Forest Museum (BC Forest Discovery Centre), and eventually converted to an oil burner. Born in Yorkshire, England in 1900, Gerry moved to Victoria with his family where his father ran a grocery store at the corner of Pandora and Cook. Young Gerry had started collecting stamps in England so when he discovered both British Columbia and Vancouver Island had once issued their own stamps, he became fascinated. In 1923, he moved his wife Ethel May and daughter Lois to Courtenay where he worked in logging and sawmilling. In the early 1930’s he founded Wellburn Timbers Ltd., a sawmilling and logging company in Duncan. In 1943 he sold the company to his friend H. R. MacMillan and continued on as manager of what is now the Shawnigan Division of MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. During his career, Gerry started logging with six horses; progressed to using steam yarders and was one of the first to use Caterpillar tractors and trucks. Other accomplishments of his include being: a founder of the Truck Loggers Association, made an honorary member of the Association of Professional Foresters, the president of the Duncan Chamber of Commerce and the Victory Bond sales drives, and the Chairman of the Duncan Hospital Society for 12 years. He opened the BC Forestry Museum (now the BC Forest Discovery Centre) opened in 1965. |
Photographer |
Swanson, W. R. |
Search Terms |
Samson No. 25 Vulcan Iron Works locomotive Cowichan Valley Railway 1549 Grant Smith & Co S.S. Maguffin Collection BCFDC saddletank Deerholme 0-4-0 |
Collection |
Wellburn |
People |
Wellburn Swanson |
Subjects |
Locomotives |