French "Merci" Boxcar - Gratitude Train - Little Falls, MN
Posted by: 
lenron
N 46° 04.841 W 094° 20.811
15T E 395862 N 5103893
French Merci Boxcar at the Minnesota Military Museum near Little Falls, MN.
Waymark Code: WMA1NR
Location: Minnesota, United States
Date Posted: 11/01/2010
Views: 6
The Merci Train was a train of 49 French railroad box cars filled with tens of thousands of gifts of gratitude from at least that many individual French citizens. They were showing their appreciation for the more than 700 American box cars of relief goods sent to them by (primarily) individual Americans in 1948. The Merci Train arrived in New York harbor on February 3rd, 1949 and each of the 48 American states at that time received one of the gift laden box cars. The 49th box car was shared by Washington D.C. and the Territory of Hawaii. Parades and ceremonies of welcome were conducted in the state capitols and major cities of almost all the states. More information at (
visit link)
This boxcar is located on the grounds of Camp Ripley near Little Falls, MN. It is in the outdoor display area of the Minnesota Military Museum which is a treasure trove of waymarks, equipment, and other military artifacts and displays.
The information plaque at this car reads:
French "Merci" Boxcar
Presented by the People of France to the State of Minnesota, in gratitude for the Friendship Train in 1948.
Accepted in trust by the Grand Voiture du Minnesota La Societe des Quarante Hommes ed huit Chevaux for the State of Minnesota on February 14, 1949.
This car is one which was used during World War I for military purposes. Forty Hommes et Chevaux indicates capacity of 40 men or 8 horses.