Utah Merci Boxcar - a photo on Flickriver

Utah Merci Boxcar

            After World War II, the humanitarian aid donated by the American people prompted France to send a train of 49 freight cars loaded with gifts from their people in thanks in 1949. It was called the Train de la Reconnaissance Francaise, or the French Gratitude Train, and toured the country, two cars to a flatcar as none of them were standard gauge. There was one car for each state at the time (Hawaii and Alaska had not yet been admitted to the Union, but the 49th car was to be split between Hawaii and Washington D.C.), and after the tour the cars were distributed to each for display. Utah’s went to Memory Grove  in Salt Lake City, and was given a coat of army (olive) green paint, but was damaged in the 1999 tornado and sent to Ogden in 2006, where it was refurbished by a division of the American Legion called the La Societe des Quarente Hommes et Chavaux after the nickname for this kind of car. The work was accomplished with help from other organizations as well.

Built in the 1885 in Lyon, France, this four-wheel boxcar received the name because of its capacity during World War 1, and which was stenciled on each car: 40 men, or eight horses. These boxcars were used to transport troops all across Europe during the first World War, and in fact many new cars of identical design were constructed in the U.S. for use by the militaries of the allied powers of that war and eventually during World War II. David Eccles, who owned the Utah-Idaho Central railroad, Amalgamated Sugar, and Utah Construction Company, among others, was one of the American contractors to build the new cars for the war.

The specially constructed cars are not to be confused with those sent as part of the French Gratitude Train, as only cars built in France were included. Most of the artifacts that were included with the car have been lost, but those that survived are in the possession of the Utah State Archives and are on loan to the Utah State Railroad Museum for display. Out of the 49 original cars, 47 survive and Utah’s is listed as being one of the best preserved out of all of them. It was dedicated on July 11, 2009. The car is on display as part of the Spencer S. Eccles Rail Center at the Utah State Railroad Museum in Ogden, Utah, on February 26, 2016. 

Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT
Canon EFS 18-55mm lens

Taken in: United States / Utah / Ogden (show map)

Taken on: February 26, 2016

Tags:

utah

merci

world war II

france

french

train car

rail car

rolling stock

train

trains

railroad

railway

ogden « less

Sets appears in: • Railroad Photos of Robert W. Thomson • Nevada Trip February 2016 more » • Rolling Stock • Railroad Museum Pieces « less

Groups appears in: • trains • Railroads more » • I Love Trains • railfans • Interesting Train Cars (NO ENGINES OR MOW!) • Ferroequinology • Rail Rider • Railway Preservation • Railway Express Agency • Western Railroads • Anything trains • American Rails • LIFE ON THE RAILWAYS • Rolling Stock • 1,000,000 TRAINS • Utah Railfanning • Steel Rails Across North America. • Trains across america • 1,000,000 Railcars • Runs On Rails • Railroad Photographer USA/Canada • Trains and Planes • Train. • Railroad Sightings « less

Camera: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT, f/14.0, 1/400 sec, 27mm, ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Lens:	18.0-55.0 mm
Aperture:	f/14.0
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/400)
Focal Length:	27mm
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0 Windows
Show full info

Stats: 4,378 views / 4 comments