Donkey puncher

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

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.