There are known to be three locomotives that worked the Donnelly River Mill, the first being number 4 “Nora”, then the number 86 and the number 176. The mill engines were originally driven by Bob Henderson, and later Archie Davis, Bill Pearce and Les Best. Les Best was a great favourite with the children. It was a common sight to see him steaming up the track with six or eight kids sitting on the tender.
Locomotive 176 was built by James Martin and Co in Gawler, South Australia in 1894. First purchased by WAGR in 1899 it was then bought by Bunnings in 1942. In 1955 Bunnings Engineering gave her a complete overhaul, including the fitting of a Bellfaire Boiler which operated at 160 PSI, replacing the old 135 PSI boiler, thus increasing her tractive power. In November 1956, 176 was transferred to Bunnings Yornup Mill where she hauled logs from Donnelly River to Yornup as well as sawn timber from Donnelly to Yornup Siding. The 176 shared duties at this time with locomotive 86 which is now on show at the Bassendean Rail Museum.