After the end of WWII Europe was in ruins. Many thought that we should just leave them alone, after all they brought it on themselves. Thankfully others saw the dangers of that approach and the Marshal Plan was adopted. The Marshal Plan shipped food, building materials, and money to help rebuild Europe. In gratitude, in 1948 France sent 49 railroad cars to the US, one for each state. One was shared between Washington D.C. and Hawaii which was not yet a state' The cars were WWI era goods wagons called 40 and 8. They were designed to carry 40 troops or eight horses. These are the cars I have seen so far.

North Carolina Friendship car in the North Carolina Transportation Museum.

Kentucky Friendship car in the Kentucky Railroad Museum.

Nevada Friendship Car at the Nevada State Railroad Museum.

Texas Friendship car in Austin Texas.