Paulie the Locomotive

Historic Landmark in Cota

Paulie is a Bray locomotive, invented in 1879 by Charles C. Bray. Bray was a clean-shaven logger from Indiana who had speed in mind, making this locomotive capable of speeds up to 88mph.

A gear drive locomotive with three cylinders attached to a line shaft, the Bray locomotive became the backbone of the Stetson Logging Co. of Sawamish County. 

Now displayed in downtown Cota, the Bray locomotive (affectionately named Paulie) has been preserved and sits as a reminder of Sawamish County’s rich history. According to a quote by the “End of an Epoch” booklet about logging railroads in western Washington, the Bray travelled wherever she was told to.

Originally named Paul Lee after the first superintendent of the Stetson Logging Co., it was renamed in honor of his wife, Penny, after being donated to the city of Cota in 1959.

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