This is a barrel that fits in many of the older brio train sets.
In the picture on the 2nd train car you can see it next to an original.
There is a hole at the top for an M3x10 screw. A little longer or shorter should work too. Other screws may work too. This is so the barrel can be lifted by magnetic cranes.
There is a hole in the bottom so it can stand on the pegs of one of the train cares that has the swappable tops. (The 4th train car I the picture is one of these with the top on.)
The author marked this model as their own original creation.