Today was eventful in a small and pleasant way. I met my new neighbor, a young guy who’s a police officer at the APD, and had a nice chat with him before I borrowed Jody’s bike to go riding around by myself. It was bright and sunny with an invigorating chill to the air. I rode down Lamar to Barton Creek then around the lake past all the Sunday joggers and dog walkers. Then I just explored around Zilker Park a bit enjoying the weather and the people watching. During the course of my circuit, I encountered something I had never seen or knew about before, a rail car from the Merci or Gratitude Train. Apparently, right after World War II France sent 49 train cars packed full of gifts to each state. The Gratitude train car in our state is right near the lake at the house that is now an American Legion Hall. This website has a wealth of information on the subject along with photos of many of the individual train cars from each state:
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.
Here are some photos with expository captions from my expedition.
That’s really cool. Where was that thing at?
It’s over near run-tex on lake austin blvd.
Great to hear about you chancing upon the Merci Boxcar.
Been researching them for years. Met with a fellow in Lamar that restored the boxcar.
Please check out our website worldofthanks.net