Abused and neglected, the Gainesville Midland locomotive was headed to the scrapheap during Gainesville's revitalization effort. The park train, a rusting decapod, escaped the graveyard with some fancy maneuvering and a major restoration project. Master steam mechanic, Dave Lathrop headed up the efforts to refurbished old GM # 209 on display nearby Georgia's Gainesville Midland Depot.
     The locomotive was outfitted with a new boiler, asbestos removed, and missing parts replaced, thanks to a small contingent of dedicated volunteers. The 2-10-0 steam engine rests comfortably near the intersection of West Academy and Jewell with its compliment of baggage cars and a Seaboard Airline Railroad caboose.