Doughboy reenactor poses with the Trains and Traction group's of railway enthusiasts spent countless hours restored original American Army World War I-era railway boxcar in France during the groups tour of cities across France in July 2018.

Trains & Traction brings WWI-era restored train to towns in France

By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission

Last year, we told you about a remarkable WWI restoration project in France. Calling themselves Trains and Traction, a group of railway enthusiasts spent countless hours restoring original American Army World War I-era railway boxcars, for eventual display & exhibit.
https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/3633-five-questions-for-olivier-jaubert.html

As an update -- Their original project of one boxcar turned into an incredible restoration of FIVE World War I-era boxcars, as well as a flat car!

These cars were all part of the 37,800 train cars that American brought over to France during the war. Only 65 of those train cars exist today.

This past summer, those five restored boxcars became a rolling display across a scenic railway short-line in south-west of France, where they were used as the centerpiece for a series of WWI commemorations, as well as a Fourth of July celebration.

Between the towns of Saujon and La Tremblade, the well-known “Train des Mouettes” (Seagulls Train) Association had organized commemorative events all along the route, for the first week of July.

During this “American Week”, lots of activities were held: WWI re-enactment, country music and dance entertainment, marching bands, historic steam trains circulation, exhibition of historic WWI military vehicles and weapons, etc.

The major activity throughout the week was the circulation of an historic train consisting in five restored USA 1918 American Expeditionary Force authentic railcars headed by a French restored Consolidation type locomotive built in 1916, a type very close to the US ones used during WWI in France.

Visitors see the train during a stop at the town of La Tremblade.The peak of the week was an official Fourth of July ceremony, including French local Officials, military detachments consisting in a US Navy detachment coming especially from Napoli – Italy and an French Air Force detachment from Rochefort), as well as US and French re-enactor groups in WWI uniforms.

The ceremony was honored by His Excellence Daniel E. Hall, Consul of the United States of America at Bordeaux – the oldest USA Consulate in France, established during the American Revolution.

All officials took the historic French-American train to move to the spot of the ceremony, the old railway station of the town of Etaule. The mayor of Etaule hosted the ceremony. After speeches by different authorities, the French and American national anthems were played by the band. The ceremony ended with a troop parade in the town.

All vehicles of this special train are classified as historical monuments by the French Ministry of Culture. The US railcars were restored during 2017 and 2018 through a project initiated in 2016 by two associations, Cercle Historique du Rail Français, which brought historical expertise and defined final liveries and colors and Train des Mouettes, which undertook the restoration work with volunteers.

A special book on the American trains, and their restoration, was created for the WWI centennial by the Cercle Historique du Rail Français. Information on the special book can be found here.
http://www.railsdautrefois.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid=45

Also, a series of French television videos of the Trains & Traction project can be found here: http://www.tvnp.fr/PFF/?page_id=15831

Below is a gallery of images from their incredible touring demonstration:

Modern commuter train engineer checks out the Trains & Traction train.

 July Fourth ceremony at town of Bordeaux

Living History folks represented Red Cross nurses, soldiers from both America and France, as well as WWI-era train operators 

The locomotive engine festooned with flags

The restored train carried a beautifully-restored French 155mm artillery piece.

Living History folks represented Red Cross nurses, soldiers from both America and France, as well as WWI-era train operators

The Americans introduce the corned beef to the railroad workers of the State Network.