1918 Saint Jean Train Station Bordeaux France Postcard
About This Vintage Postcard
Feel the steam and iron in this massive view of the Bordeaux South Station railyard. The scene is dominated by the monumental steel and glass train shed designed by Gustave Eiffel. This engineering marvel spans fifty six meters across and was one of the largest structures of its kind in the world. Below the soaring arch, multiple tracks are filled with early twentieth century freight and passenger carriages. The classical station building stands to the left while the industrial heart of the Midi Railway beats in the center. This view captures the raw power of the rail age in Southwestern France during a time of major military and civilian transit.
Details
Era: Divided Back (c. 1918–1919)
City: Bordeaux
State or Region: Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Country: France
Topic: Bordeaux Saint Jean Station, Gustave Eiffel Train Shed, Railyard, WWI Military Interest, Steam Era Trains, Gare de Midi
Condition: Circulated
Postage: None (Indicates hand-carried or sent in a military envelope)
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Horizontal (Landscape)
Artist / Photographer: Unknown (Publisher LL)
Publisher: Lévy Fils et Cie. (Paris)
Printer: Unknown
Print Type: Collotype
Additional Information
The publisher imprint identifies the firm as Lévy Fils et Cie. of Paris. This branding was used before the 1920 merger into the larger LL-Selecta series. The handwritten message on the back adds a layer of military history. The sender notes the station is about a block from the barracks. This suggests the card was used by a soldier during the American or British occupation of Bordeaux following the 1918 Armistice. The station was a vital hub for returning troops and military supplies. The collotype process used here provides high definition of the individual railway cars and the intricate ironwork of Eiffel's roof. This station remains a protected historic monument and a bustling center for French rail today.
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