- Electricity - Electronics
-
Turnouts
-
Signals
-
Light barrier
- Real trains ( scale 1:1 )
-
Real trains - scale 1:1
-
Selection of train videos
- Travels - Exhibitions - Fairs
|
USA : The Merci Box car in Vermont (VT)
Main sources :
www.newspapers.com ➚
www.mercitrain.org ➚
Most of the information below has been collected from old newspaper articles.
When researching the "Merci Train" it is important to distinguish between :
- The individual boxcar given to a state.
- The "Merci Train" as a name for the 49 boxcars sent by France.
- The "Merci Train" as the name for the transport of the boxcars to each individual state :
The 3 sections : New England - Southern - Western.
- The contents - gifts - that were in each boxcar.
- The fact that the 40 & 8 Society's made / and still make replicas, of varying likeness, of the French boxcar to use as floats in parades.
Using various search words and combinations of words is necessary :
"Merci Train" - "Gratitude Train" - "French / merci / gratitude car / boxcar" - "thank you train" - "french gift"
The official French name for the "Merci Train" was :
"Train de la reconnaissance française" - as written on one side of the boxcars.
However the term "train de la reconnaissance" can also be used for the first train travelling on a newly laid track and even as a military term for a "scouting" trip.
Known missing facts are shown with "_____" or a
Vermont :
From www.freeprintoutmaps.com ➚
The Vermont boxcar
The boxcar was delivered to the capitol of each state; - in Vermont it was Montpelier.
The boxcar can now ( 2015 ) be found at the Vermont Veteran's Military Museum and Library ➚, Camp Johnson National Guard Camp, Colchester, Vermont.
Information about the Vermont "Merci Train" boxcar and the gifts is really hard to find.
1948 - January 1949
Same history as the other 48 boxcars.
Repaired, repainted ( "slate grey" ) and decorated with shields and signs in France.
Shipped to the USA on the Magellan.
February 1949
-
Wednesday, February 02, 1949.
- Loaded off the "Magellan" at the Weehawken docks, Erie Railroad Pier North H, New Jersey.
- Placed on a US-railroad flatcar and shunted onto "New England Section" of the "Merci Train".
- Guarded by railroad-police till departure.
-
****day, February **, 1949.
Arrival in Montpelier
"Merci Train" Committee in Vermont :
Known gifts from the Vermont "Merci Train" boxcar
- Sevres porcelain vase.
- From : French President Vincent Auriol.
- Allocated to : Governor .
- Present or last known location : ?
- Other remarks :
- Fine embroidered handkerchief.
- From : Mme. Nellie Bouillon - Moulies Allier.
- Allocated to : Jacksonville - Whittingham Library .
- Present or last known location : ?
- Other remarks : Came with poem / verse.
- Silver jam pot with a pottery cover.
- From : Mme. Nellie Bouillon - Moulies Allier. ?
- Allocated to : Jacksonville - Whittingham Library .
- Present or last known location : ?
- Other remarks : Came with poem / verse.
- 43 dolls from different sections of France.
- From :
- Allocated to : Vermont Historical Society.
- Present or last known location : Vermont Historical Society.
- Other remarks : On display at exhibit February 1964.
- Paintings - craftwork - vases - needlework, statues, many "treasured family heirlooms".
- From :
- Allocated to : Vermont Historical Society.
- Present or last known location : Vermont Historical Society.
- Other remarks : On display at exhibit February 1964.
My photos of the Vermont "Merci Train" boxcar
Location :
Vermont Veteran's Military Museum and Library ➚,
Camp Johnson National Guard Camp,
Colchester,
Vermont.
Street name is : "Academy Lane".
You can download my Google Earth kmz-file with the positions of all the remaining 43 boxcars.
Click on an image to enlarge :
Coming soon !
|
|