Learn about the unique history of the 38,000 American railroad cars imported to France during World War I. Unloaded in La Rochelle and assembled on the spot, they gave rise to an important local know-how, still used at the Aytré site. Today, the Trains & Tractions association is committed to restoring and reviving this unique railroad and historical heritage.
An army of American railroad cars
The USA entered World War I alongside France and the United Kingdom in 1917. Determined to tip the balance, they planned to send more than 2.5 million soldiers to Europe. These troops and all of their equipment landed on the Atlantic coast and had to reach the eastern French front as soon as possible.
Reconstitution de troupes françaises et américaines sur un wagon à La RochelleFondation du patrimoine
The most efficient solution was to send them via the railroad. But after four years of war, the French equipment was piecemeal and worn out.
The United States made the decision to send railroad cars and locomotives to the Old World.
Anticipating a longer war and an increase in the number of troops needing transportation, in 1918, it was decided to produce up to 50,000 railroad cars and 2,550 locomotives.
Déchargement de matériel sur le port de La RochelleFondation du patrimoine
The deep-water port of La Pallice in La Rochelle was selected to transport the tons of material necessary to assemble the railroad cars, while the port of Saint-Nazaire was selected for the locomotives.
Montage d'un wagon américain à La RochelleFondation du patrimoine
The assembly area was initially located right on the port, but it was later moved to La Rochelle's new train station that was still under construction 5 km away.
Wagon américain de la Première Guerre mondialeFondation du patrimoine
In total, nearly 38,000 railroad cars were assembled in La Rochelle by 1921. The activity continued after the war, to help to rebuild the territories that were destroyed by the conflict.
Soldats américains à l'intérieur de la gare de La RochelleFondation du patrimoine
To accomplish this enormous task, an American regiment of 20,000 dedicated men was created. It was the 35th Engineers regiment, which was directly attached to the American army's Services of Supply.
These men built their own barracks at the assembly site. The station's hall was transformed into a mess hall for meals and entertainment. The entire site was renamed Camp Pullman by its occupants.
At that time, one out of every five people living in La Rochelle was American!
Atelier de peinture des wagons à La RochelleFondation du patrimoine
Even though they were not at the front, these soldiers did not take it easy. They assembled up to 150 railroad cars per day.
Daily production was written on the paint workshop's pediment and compared to the actions carried out on the front during the same week.
Reconstitution d'une troupe américaine avec des véhicules militairesFondation du patrimoine
This regiment's operations were praised at the highest levels of government both in the United States and in France.
This is shown in a letter written by George Clemenceau, President of the Council, in January 1919, paying "tribute to the distinguished service rendered to the Allied cause by the 35th American Engineers Regiment and (noting) the important role it played."
Détail d'un wagon américain de la Première Guerre mondialeFondation du patrimoine
On March 31, 1919, the 35th Engineers left La Rochelle and Camp Pullman was closed. But the railroad car assembly operations did not stop, as France had a pressing need to rebuild its damaged areas.
An American company took over: the Middletown Car Company. Renamed the Entreprise Industrielle Charentaise (Charente Industrial Company), the company left La Rochelle's New Station and relocated to Aytré in 1921. This is where Alsthom is still located today.
The association reviving this history
Today, about 70 railroad cars assembled by the American army in La Rochelle still exist throughout the world. The Trains & Tractions association, located in Chaillevette, in Charente-Maritime, carries on the memory of this production by restoring American railroad cars. It owns nine of them today, some of which were restored for the hundredth anniversary of the end of World War I, with the support of the Fondation du patrimoine (French Heritage Foundation).
Wagon américain de la Première Guerre mondialeFondation du patrimoine
The association loaned out these railroad cars used to transport troops and equipment to participate in commemorative events all around France.
Reconstitution des troupes françaises et américaines et des mécaniciens des trains devant un wagon américainFondation du patrimoine
The association also organizes reenactments, like this one in 2018, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Exposition d'objets typiques des poilus à l'intérieur d'un wagon américain à ChaillevetteFondation du patrimoine
For these events, the restored railroad cars are fitted out to show aspects of French and American soldiers' lives at that time.
Groupe scolaire devant un wagon américainFondation du patrimoine
It is a wonderful opportunity to educate children and pass on the stories of these men, as well as teaching them how old steam locomotives operated.
Réalisation des élèves de L'ISA..au Train des MouettesFondation du patrimoine
These railroad cars are also used as backdrops in films, like here in this short film produced by students at the Audiovisual and Cinema School (École d'Audiovisuel et de Cinéma, also ISA), allowing us to admire them while in motion, set in their historical context.
A big thank you to the Trains & Tractions Association and to historian Jean-Claude Bonnin for their help in producing this content.
To support the association's projects along with the Fondation du Patrimoine, click this link https://www.fondation-patrimoine.org/les-projets/rame-wagons-usa-1918-tp
