Robert Swanson Was the All-time ‘Whistle-Blower’

One of the simpler Chemainus murals shows a man in everyday clothes, wearing suspenders, his shirtsleeves rolled up. Obviously a working man—but who was he and why is he honoured among the world-famous murals?’

The artist identifies him as Robert Swanson. Bob who?

The key to his claim to fame is in the mural’s background—a brass steam whistle.

Ah, that Bob Swanson: the man who, after a career in the lumber industry became B.C.’s chief inspector of railways. Who, off-duty, wrote poetry about loggers and logging that’s again in print, invented things and made whistles–big whistles–for railways, for ships, for lighthouses, for at least one major Nanaimo coal mine, and the Duke Point pulp mill.

And, although born in the romantic age of steam, he’s credited with (or cursed for) having invented the air horn ‘chime’ used by diesel locomotives.

Robert Swanson’s was a truly remarkable career as you’ll see next week in the Chronicles.

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PHOTO: The Chemainus mural shows Bob Swanson in working clothes; this photo shows him as he preferred to be—well dressed—according to a close business associate __ photo WIKIPEDIA