Railroads

Vice-President Alben Barkley (standing at microphone) speaking to a crowd gathered around a boxcar from the French "Merci train." The train was a gift from France to the United States in recognition of U.S. aid to France after World War II. Others at ceremony unidentified.

Unidentified man speaking to a crowd gathered around a box from the French "Merci train." The train was a gift from France to the United States in recognition of U.S. aid to France after World War II. Seated on the right side of the podium are Vice-President Alben Barkley (left) and Senator Arthur Vandenberg. All others are unidentified.

Unidentified man speaking to a crowd gathered around a box from the French "Merci train." The train was a gift from France to the United States in recognition of U.S. aid to France after World War II. Standing on the right side of the podium are Vice-President Alben Barkley (left) and Senator Arthur Vandenberg. All others are unidentified.

French Ambassador to the United States Henri Bonnet speaking to a crowd gathered around a box from the French "Merci train." The train was a gift from France to the United States in recognition of U.S. aid to France after World War II. Seated on the right side of the podium are Vice-President Alben Barkley (left) and Senator Arthur Vandenberg. All others are unidentified.

An unidentified man prepares to cut a ribbon on a boxcar from the French "Merci train," a gift from France to the United States in grateful recognition of U.S. aid to France after World War II. Vice-President Alben Barkley (not pictured) attended the ceremony, along with many veterans.

Vice President Alben Barkley (speaking behind podium) attending a ceremony next to a boxcar from the French "Merci train," a gift from France to the United States in grateful recognition of U.S. aid to France after World War II. Veterans stand among the crowd, all unidentified.

Station scene with soldiers at Pyongyang, North Korea. Photograph taken during the U.S. Reparations Mission. Edwin Pauley was the U.S. Ambassador on the Allied Reparations Committee from 1945-47 (the committee that assessed the reparations Axis powers could afford to pay the victors).

Scene at Pyongyang taken from Pauley Special Train. Photograph taken during the U.S. Reparations Mission. Edwin Pauley was the U.S. Ambassador on the Allied Reparations Committee from 1945-47 (the committee that assessed the reparations Axis powers could afford to pay the victors).

Scene at Pyongyang, Korea, taken from Pauley Special Train. Photograph taken during the U.S. Reparations Mission. Edwin Pauley was the U.S. Ambassador on the Allied Reparations Committee from 1945-47 (the committee that assessed the reparations Axis powers could afford to pay the victors).

Scene at Pyongyang taken from Pauley Special Train. Photograph taken during the U.S. Reparations Mission. Edwin Pauley was the U.S. Ambassador on the Allied Reparations Committee from 1945-47 (the committee that assessed the reparations Axis powers could afford to pay the victors).