Snuffy: BTW in these versions it appears the "bulgine" could be used for firefighting duties, presumably for pumping water onto the fire. But was it on board or on shore?

A "fire bulgine" was a "steam pumper fire engine." The term came into popular song during, or just after, the American Civil War (c.1860).

It was not a "Bull Engine" steam "pendulum" pump as speculated elsewhere. It was a small, mobile boiler and steam engine driving a standard mechanical "force" pump.

One presumes the unpowered, horse or hand-drawn wagon was the source of the "run with the bulgine..." lyric...

Merryweather two-wheeler "bulgine" from back in the day.

At any rate, I wouldn't think you'd find many minstrel-chanty references in the early years c.1840-1860. Those are railroad locomotive engines, "Clear de track" &c.