anama is a country famous for many things—one of them being the historical construction of the artificial canal. But what many do not know, however, is that its construction would not have been possible had it not been for the prior creation of a railway in the 1840s. This railway is debated to be the oldest Transcontinental train in the world. Currently, the Panama Canal Railway runs alongside its route, attracting visitors while serving as a living representation of this historic railway.
Since as early as the 1500s, when the Spanish found the area which is now present-day Panama, governments and businesses have searched for a way to join the two oceans together. The reason being that if a connection was made, it would be more profitable and offer a faster way of reaching Asia and the western side of the Americas than going around Cape Horn—the southernmost tip of South America.
It was not until the 1800s that the first initiative was taken to make this idea into a reality. In 1832, the United States government sent Colonel Charles Biddle to Panama to negotiate a compromise for the construction of the railroad. A little more than a decade later, the construction contract was given to a company headed by George M. Totten and John G. Trautwine in 1849 and in 1850, they started building the railroad. By January 28th, 1855, the transcontinental railroad ran from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean for the first time, shortening the length of travel from days to a couple of hours. The newly constructed railway was a single track that spanned for 47 miles, and over the next few decades, renovations were made to it. The train served to move freight and gold across the isthmus. Travel writer Robert Tomes, described the train in 1855 as:
“gliding mile after mile, and…so smoothly…through deep marsh…as firm now a stone pavement” while passengers “lounged at our ease…and smoked, and talked, and looked with admiring wonder upon the tropical profusion of beauty.”
In 1904, President Roosevelt appointed an Isthmian Canal Commission to build the Panama Canal in the same location as the railroad. That is why the railroad was relocated by 1912. By 1977, the U.S. Government relinquished their control of the Panama Railroad and the control was given over to the Government of Panama under the terms of the Carter-Torrijos Treaty. By 1997, the railroad was in a state of decline due to a lack of funding - its function would have stopped altogether had not been privatized and handed over to the Panama Canal Railway Company in 1998. In 2000, the railway was reconstructed and by 2001, passenger service began.
Currently, the Panama Canal Railway connects the Panamanian cities of Colón and Balboa—the route is exactly 47.6 miles long, taking about an hour in duration. It runs alongside the original route of the transcontinental railroad and offers passenger service daily—its primary function, however, is to move cargo between Atlantic and Pacific ports. The passenger trains offer tourists and locals an opportunity to view the Canal, the terrain, tropical rainforest, and to enjoy looking at all the flora and fauna that the country of Panama has to offer.
Without the help of the transcontinental railroad, the world-famous Panama Canal would have never been built. Although its original tracks are no longer functioning, its sister railway remains is a reminder of this grand innovation that inspired the making of other famous transcontinental railroads and served as proof of what humans were capable of accomplishing.
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A Train that Led to a Canal
Panama - Photo by Aljoscha Laschgari via Unsplash.
October 19, 2020
The famous Panama Canal would not have been possible without the train tracks that led the way.
P
anama is a country famous for many things—one of them being the historical construction of the artificial canal. But what many do not know, however, is that its construction would not have been possible had it not been for the prior creation of a railway in the 1840s. This railway is debated to be the oldest Transcontinental train in the world. Currently, the Panama Canal Railway runs alongside its route, attracting visitors while serving as a living representation of this historic railway.
Since as early as the 1500s, when the Spanish found the area which is now present-day Panama, governments and businesses have searched for a way to join the two oceans together. The reason being that if a connection was made, it would be more profitable and offer a faster way of reaching Asia and the western side of the Americas than going around Cape Horn—the southernmost tip of South America.
It was not until the 1800s that the first initiative was taken to make this idea into a reality. In 1832, the United States government sent Colonel Charles Biddle to Panama to negotiate a compromise for the construction of the railroad. A little more than a decade later, the construction contract was given to a company headed by George M. Totten and John G. Trautwine in 1849 and in 1850, they started building the railroad. By January 28th, 1855, the transcontinental railroad ran from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean for the first time, shortening the length of travel from days to a couple of hours. The newly constructed railway was a single track that spanned for 47 miles, and over the next few decades, renovations were made to it. The train served to move freight and gold across the isthmus. Travel writer Robert Tomes, described the train in 1855 as:
“gliding mile after mile, and…so smoothly…through deep marsh…as firm now a stone pavement” while passengers “lounged at our ease…and smoked, and talked, and looked with admiring wonder upon the tropical profusion of beauty.”
In 1904, President Roosevelt appointed an Isthmian Canal Commission to build the Panama Canal in the same location as the railroad. That is why the railroad was relocated by 1912. By 1977, the U.S. Government relinquished their control of the Panama Railroad and the control was given over to the Government of Panama under the terms of the Carter-Torrijos Treaty. By 1997, the railroad was in a state of decline due to a lack of funding - its function would have stopped altogether had not been privatized and handed over to the Panama Canal Railway Company in 1998. In 2000, the railway was reconstructed and by 2001, passenger service began.
Currently, the Panama Canal Railway connects the Panamanian cities of Colón and Balboa—the route is exactly 47.6 miles long, taking about an hour in duration. It runs alongside the original route of the transcontinental railroad and offers passenger service daily—its primary function, however, is to move cargo between Atlantic and Pacific ports. The passenger trains offer tourists and locals an opportunity to view the Canal, the terrain, tropical rainforest, and to enjoy looking at all the flora and fauna that the country of Panama has to offer.
Without the help of the transcontinental railroad, the world-famous Panama Canal would have never been built. Although its original tracks are no longer functioning, its sister railway remains is a reminder of this grand innovation that inspired the making of other famous transcontinental railroads and served as proof of what humans were capable of accomplishing.
