Merci Train

Merci Train
Photograph of boxcar from French "Merci train," a gift from France to the United States in grateful recognition of U.S. aid to France after World War II.

The French Gratitude Train (French: Train de la Reconnaissance française), commonly referred to as the Merci Train, were 49 World War I era "forty and eight" boxcars gifted to the United States by France in response to the 1947 U.S. Friendship Train. It arrived in Weehawken, New Jersey on February 2, 1949.

Background

The idea to send a "thank you" gift to the United States for the $40 million in food and other supplies sent to France and Italy in 1947 came from a French railroad worker, and World War II veteran, named Andre Picard.[1] Donations from the Merci Train came from over six million citizens of France and Italy in the form of dolls, statues, clothes, ornamental objects, furniture, and even a Legion of Honour medal purported to have belonged to Napoleon.[2]

History

Main article: Forty-and-eights

Merci Train presentation ceremony in the Fourteenth Street yards opposite the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washington, D.C. in 1949.[3]

The boxcars were "forty-and-eights" used during both world wars. The term refers to the cars' carrying capacity, said to be 40 men or eight horses.[4] Built starting in the 1870s as regular freight boxcars, they were originally used in military service by the French army in both World Wars, and then later used by the German occupation in World War II and finally by the Allied liberators.

In 1949, France sent 49 of those boxcars to the United States (one for each state and the Territory of Hawaii) laden with various treasures, as a show of gratitude for the liberation of France. This train was called the Merci Train, and was sent in response to trains full (over 700 boxcars) of supplies known as the Friendship Train sent by the American people to France in 1947. Each of the Merci Train boxcars carried five tons of gifts, all of which were donated by private citizens.[5]

The Train and all 49 cars arrived aboard the Magellan on February 2, 1949, with over 25,000 onlookers in attendance. On the side of the gift-laden French freighter was painted, "MERCI AMERICA".[5] Immediately the trains were distributed amongst the states.

Boxcars

The Merci Train boxcars were opened and turned into travelling exhibits before each state committee distributed the entire contents. The 43 surviving boxcars are on public display within each state as follows:

Boxcar	Image	Location	City or town	Notes
Alabama		U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum 34.692051°N 86.586194°W / 34.692051; -86.586194 (Alabama Merci Train Boxcar)	Huntsville	The Alabama State Archives has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[6]
Arizona		McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park 33.537500°N 111.923333°W / 33.537500; -111.923333 (Arizona Merci Train Boxcar)	Scottsdale	The Arizona Capitol Museum has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[7]
Arkansas		American Legion Post 41 34.527528°N 90.588361°W / 34.527528; -90.588361 (Arkansas Merci Train Boxcar)	Helena–West Helena	The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[8]
California		American Legion Post 509 36.782337°N 119.772787°W / 36.782337; -119.772787 (California Merci Train Boxcar)	Fresno
Colorado		Unknown		Car has been lost. The Woodruff Memorial Library has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[9]
Connecticut		Destroyed		The Abbey of Regina Laudis was gifted a French church bell from the boxcar.[10]
Delaware		American Legion Post 6 38.644101°N 75.609211°W / 38.644101; -75.609211 (Delaware Merci Train Boxcar)	Seaford	Owned and maintained by Forty and Eight Voiture 1320 of Sussex County[11]
Florida		Holly Hill City Hall 29.244416°N 81.040179°W / 29.244416; -81.040179 (Florida Merci Train Boxcar)	Holly Hill	The city hall has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[12]
Georgia		Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History 34.024000°N 84.614400°W / 34.024000; -84.614400 (Georgia Merci Train Boxcar)	Kennesaw	The Georgia State Archives has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[13]
Idaho		Old Idaho State Penitentiary 43.602700°N 116.162000°W / 43.602700; -116.162000 (Idaho Merci Train Boxcar)	Boise	The Idaho Historical Society has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[14]
Illinois		Unknown		Possibly abandoned and destroyed at the old 1948-1949 Chicago Railroad Fair site.
Indiana		Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum 41.093330°N 85.246208°W / 41.093330; -85.246208 (Indiana Merci Train Boxcar)	Fort Wayne	The Fort Wayne History Center has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[15]
Iowa		Antique Acres 42.609824°N 92.457628°W / 42.609824; -92.457628 (Iowa Merci Train Boxcar)	Cedar Falls	The Iowa Historical Society has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[16]
Kansas	[1]	Veterans Memorial Park 38.872050°N 99.300760°W / 38.872050; -99.300760 (Kansas Merci Train Boxcar)	Hays	Owned and maintained by Forty and Eight Voiture 1543 of Ellis County[17]
Kentucky		Kentucky Railway Museum 37.657103°N 85.593405°W / 37.657103; -85.593405 (Kentucky Merci Train Boxcar)	New Haven	The Kentucky Historical Society has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[18]
Louisiana		Old Louisiana State Capitol 30.446881°N 91.188861°W / 30.446881; -91.188861 (Louisiana Merci Train Boxcar)	Baton Rouge
Maine		Railway Village Museum 43.902926°N 69.621776°W / 43.902926; -69.621776 (Maine Merci Train Boxcar)	Boothbay	The Maine State Museum has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[19]
Maryland		B&O Railroad Museum 39.285509°N 76.632619°W / 39.285509; -76.632619 (Maryland Merci Train Boxcar)	Baltimore	The Montgomery County Historical Society has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[20]
Massachusetts		Destroyed		scrapped in the 1960s
Michigan		American Legion Post 183 42.667663°N 84.606928°W / 42.667663; -84.606928 (Michigan Merci Train Boxcar)	Lansing	Owned and maintained by Forty and Eight Voiture 946 of Eaton County.[21]
Minnesota		Minnesota Military Museum 46.081073°N 94.347034°W / 46.081073; -94.347034 (Minnesota Merci Train Boxcar)	Little Falls	Owned and maintained by Forty and Eight Grand Voiture du Minnesota.[22]
Mississippi		Old GM&O Depot 32.298546°N 90.179118°W / 32.298546; -90.179118 (Mississippi Merci Train Boxcar)	Jackson	The Museum of Mississippi History has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[23]
Missouri		Dakotaland Museum 38.691700°N 93.259033°W / 38.691700; -93.259033 (Missouri Merci Train Boxcar)	Sedalia	Owned and maintained by Forty and Eight Voiture 333 of Pettis County.[24]
Montana		Montana Military Museum 46.622532°N 112.097600°W / 46.622532; -112.097600 (Montana Merci Train Boxcar)	Fort Harrison	The Montana Historical Society has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[25]
Nebraska		Destroyed		partially scrapped in 1951, remainder converted to shed and destroyed in 1961. The Nebraska Historical Society has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[26]
Nevada		Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City 35.970306°N 114.856810°W / 35.970306; -114.856810 (Nevada Merci Train Boxar)	Boulder City	The Nevada State Museum has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[27]
New Hampshire		126 Reed St. 42.996633°N 71.482133°W / 42.996633; -71.482133 (New Hampshire Merci Train Boxar)	Manchester	Saint Anselm College has a collection of gifts from the boxcar.[28]
New Jersey		Destroyed		The New Jersey Museum has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[29]
New Mexico		Expo New Mexico 35.080554°N 106.570564°W / 35.080554; -106.570564 (New Mexico Merci Train Boxcar)	Albuquerque	The fair grounds has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[30]
New York		Forty and Eight Voiture 92 43.11138°N 75.346719°W / 43.11138; -75.346719 (New York Merci Train Boxcar)	Whitesboro	The Met has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[31]
North Carolina		North Carolina Transportation Museum 35.687539°N 80.433338°W / 35.687539; -80.433338 (North Carolina Merci Train Boxcar)	Spencer	The North Carolina History Museum has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[32]
North Dakota		North Dakota Heritage Center 46.818435°N 100.779894°W / 46.818435; -100.779894 (North Dakota Merci Train Boxcar)	Bismarck	The North Dakota Historical Society has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[33]
Ohio		Camp Perry 41.542523°N 83.020277°W / 41.542523; -83.020277 (Ohio Merci Train Boxcar)	Near Port Clinton	The Ohio Historical Society has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[34]
Oklahoma		J. D. McCarty Center 35.231790°N 97.409588°W / 35.231790; -97.409588 (Oklahoma Merci Train Boxcar)	Norman	The Oklahoma History Center has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[35]
Oregon		Simpson Park 43.415892°N 124.224374°W / 43.415892; -124.224374 (Oregon Merci Train Boxcar)	North Bend	The Benton County Historical Society has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[36]
Pennsylvania		Fort Indiantown Gap 40.432089°N 76.569960°W / 40.432089; -76.569960 (Pennsylvania Merci Train Boxcar)	Near Jonestown	The Blair County and Lycoming County historical societies have collections of gifts from the boxcar.[37]
Rhode Island		Museum of Work and Culture 41.999296°N 71.516107°W / 41.999296; -71.516107 (Rhode Island Merci Train Boxcar)	Woonsocket	The museum has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[38]
South Carolina		Memorial Park 34.219331°N 80.247577°W / 34.219331; -80.247577 (South Carolina Merci Train Boxcar)	Bishopville
South Dakota		State Fairgrounds 44.363464°N 98.229703°W / 44.363464; -98.229703 (South Dakota Merci Train Boxcar)	Huron	The Dakotaland Museum has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[39]
Tennessee		American Legion Post 145 36.585750°N 82.181491°W / 36.585750; -82.181491 (Tennessee Merci Train Boxcar)	Bristol	The Tennessee State Museum has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[40]
Texas		Texas Military Forces Museum 30.313761°N 97.761278°W / 30.313761; -97.761278 (Texas Merci Train Boxcar)	Camp Mabry	The Briscoe History Center has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[41]
Utah		Utah State Railroad Museum 41.222013°N 111.979280°W / 41.222013; -111.979280 (Utah Merci Train Boxcar)	Ogden
Vermont		Vermont National Guard Library and Museum 44.500439°N 73.157397°W / 44.500439; -73.157397 (Vermont Merci Train Boxcar)	Colchester	The Vermont Historical Society and the Wood Art Gallery have collections of gifts from the boxcar.[42]
Virginia		Virginia War Museum 37.019476°N 76.453647°W / 37.019476; -76.453647 (Virginia Merci Train Boxcar)	Newport News
Washington		Sarg Hubbard Riverside Park 46.601932°N 120.474826°W / 46.601932; -120.474826 (Washington Merci Train Boxcar)	Yakima	The Karshner Museum has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[43]
West Virginia		Veterans' Park 37.418257°N 81.589946°W / 37.418257; -81.589946 (West Virginia Merci Train Boxcar)	Welch	Tu-Endie-Wei State Park has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[44]
Wisconsin		National Railroad Museum 44.483306°N 88.048000°W / 44.483306; -88.048000 (Wisconsin Merci Train Boxcar)	Ashwaubenon	The Hoard Historical Museum and the Wisconsin Historical Society have collections of gifts from the boxcar.[45][46]
Wyoming		American Legion Post 6 41.138219°N 104.793853°W / 41.138219; -104.793853 (Wyoming Merci Train Boxcar)	Cheyenne	The Wyoming Museum has a collection of French gifts from the boxcar.[47]
Territory of Hawaii		Hawaiian Railway Society 21.331897°N 158.046105°W / 21.331897; -158.046105 (Hawaii Merci Train Boxcar)	Ewa Beach

References

1. "Merci Train".
2. "WWII Encyclopedia: The Forty and Eight".
3. "American Legion To Get Torch for Arlington Today". The Sunday Star. No. 36. Washington, D.C. February 6, 1949. p. E–14.
4. "What is the 40 & 8".
5. "The "Merci" Train". Life Magazine. 26 (9): 72–74. February 28, 1949. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
6. "Merci Train – Alabama". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
7. "December 20, 2013 – Arizona State Capitol". Retrieved May 4, 2022.
8. "Merci Train – Arkansas". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
9. "Merci Train – Colorado". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
10. "Merci Train – Connecticut". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
11. "Forty & Eight Boxcar". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
12. "Merci Train – Florida". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
13. "Merci Train – Georgia". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
14. "Merci Train – Idaho". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
15. "Merci Train: Gifts of Gratitude from France". Allen County and Fort Wayne Historical Society. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
16. "Merci Train – Iowa". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
17. "Kansas Merci Boxcar & Veterans Memorial Park". Hays, Kansas. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
18. "Merci Train – Kentucky". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
19. "Merci Train – Maine". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
20. "Merci Train – Maryland". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
21. "Merci Train – Michigan". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
22. "Merci Train – Minnesota". Merci Train. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
23. "Merci Train – Mississippi". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
24. "Forty and Eight Voiture 333". Retrieved May 5, 2022.
25. "Merci Train – Montana". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
26. "French Gratitude Train Collection". History Nebraska. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
27. "Merci Train – Nevada". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
28. "Merci Train – New Hampshire". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
29. "Merci Train – New Jersey". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
30. "Merci Train – New Mexico". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
31. "Merci Train – New York". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
32. "Merci Train – North Carolina". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
33. "French Gratitude Train Online Exhibit". State Historical Society of North Dakota. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
34. "Merci Train – Ohio". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
35. "Merci Train – Oklahoma". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
36. "Merci Train – Oregon". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
37. "Merci Train – Pennsylvania". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
38. "The Merci Train Visits Woonsocket: A French Connection". The Online Review of Rhode Island History. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
39. Van Poll, Louise (September 1, 2015). "The Merci Train of Gratitude" (PDF). The Daily Plainsman. No. 209. Huron, South Dakota. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
40. "Merci Train – Tennessee". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
41. "Merci Train – Texas". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
42. "'Merci Train' Treasure Gift of Grateful French People". Vermont Sunday News. No. 37 (Franklin County ed.). Burlington, Vermont. February 13, 1949. p. 3. Retrieved May 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
43. "Merci Train – Washington". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
44. "Merci Train – West Virginia". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
45. "Merci Train". Hoard Historical Museum. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
46. "Merci Train – Wisconsin". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
47. "Merci Train – Wyoming". Merci Train. Retrieved May 5, 2022.

Further reading

• Broch, Ludivine (November 27, 2017). "'The Merci Train: Remembering the World Wars in 52,000 Objects'". University of Kent. Retrieved May 6, 2022.

External links

• Merci Train
• Merci Train at Historical Marker Database