On Feb three , 1949 , a crowd of over 25 ,000 gathered at New York Harbor to meet the arrival of a merchant ship named Magellan. On the side of the French freighter was painted the words "MERCI AMERICA". Aboard was forty-nine French railroad box cars filled amongst tens of thousands of gifts donated yesteryear French citizens. This was the Merci Train , a token of appreciation to the people of the United States of America from the people of French Republic , for the 700 boxcars of nutrient together with relief materials that Americans had sent to war-torn Europe inwards 1947.
The 700-car Friendship Train sent yesteryear the Americans was the brainchild of Drew Pearson , an American paper columnist together with nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. Pearson was inwards Europe when he noticed that the Russians were beingness lauded together with 'thanked' for their contributions of a few carloads of grain delivered to Europeans. Being a staunch anti-communist , the peachy fanfare celebrating these meager gifts rankled Pearson. He believed that the USA could surpass the communists inwards sending nutrient to the desperate , hungry Europeans.
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An former photograph of the Illinois boxcar , which didn’t survive. It is presumed to live scrapped. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com
The West Virginia Merci Train Boxcar , located inwards Welch at Veteran's Park. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com
The Hawaii Merci Train Boxcar (shared yesteryear Washington together with Hawaii) , located on the grounds of the Hawaiian Railway inwards Ewa , Oahu , a brusk elbow grease due west from Pearl Harbor together with Honolulu. Washington DC is rumored to bring kept all the gifts loaded inwards the boxcar , piece Hawaii got the empty car. According to Christian Vinaa , withal , Hawaii did larn about of the gifts. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com
The Louisiana boxcar is at the Old State Capitol Museum inwards Baton Rouge. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com
The Missouri Merci Train Boxcar , located on the grounds of the Missouri State Fair inwards Sedalia. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com
The Oregon Merci Train Boxcar , located inwards North Bend , Oregon along the coast nearly Coos Bay. Photo credit: www.themetrains.com
Sources: Wikipedia / www.mercitrain.org / www.themetrains.com / www.skylighters.org / www.thefriendshiptrain1947.org