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Just how many miles the 1881 logging locomotive located on the grounds of the Pioneer Museum of Alabama has traveled or how many whistles have blown, no one knows.

But no matter, the logging train is a main attraction at the museum.

Barbara Tatom, museum director, said the 1881 logging locative was donated to the museum by Earl M. McGowin in 1992 for permanent display.

The 1881 logging locomotive has stood the test of time, but recently, time has a made a change in the old Number 14.

The museum had a fundraiser last year to raise money to “Save the Train” and paint it.

Barbara Tatom, museum director, applied for a grant and received additional money to help with a larger scope project. which included repairing the shed and painting the train.

“The work on the train shed began about three weeks ago and was scheduled to just be cosmetic touch up.  Unfortunately, Tatom said, once the work started, structural issues were found that had to be addressed.

A buttress was built on each corner column; lateral bracing was added at the top of each column and an X brace was added on the underside from corner to corner to better support the shed, Tatom said.  All the columns were painted black to protect the new wood.

“The plan is to finish the shed columns by covering them with rough cut lumber at a later date, but we need to raise additional money to complete it,” Tatom said. “The painting of the train will begin in the next couple of months.”

If you would like to donate to the train shed project, please make checks payable to the Pioneer Museum of Alabama with a notation of train shed on the check.  The museum’s address is 248 U.S. Highway 231 N Troy, AL  36081.