Panama Canal Museum

2005 The Panama Railroad, 1855 – 2005

On January 28, 1855, the Panama Railroad completed its first trip across the Isthmus of Panama, thus becoming the first transcontinental railroad in the Americas, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Its completion took place 14 years before people in the United States could travel coast to coast by train.

Since its opening, the railroad has made significant historical contributions to the United States, Panama and the Panama Canal: It gave birth to a city, Aspinwall, which later became Colon; it played an important part in the California Gold Rush, transporting thousands of people across the Isthmus to seek riches on the West Coast; and it was instrumental in both the French and United States’ efforts to build the Canal.  Many of an estimated 6,000 workers from countries near and far who died in the railroad’s construction were buried in the railroad’s cemetery at Mount Hope. From early in the Canal construction period until 1979, the Panama Railroad was the only year-round passenger and freight operation of its kind run by the United States Government. It continues as a private operation now, and its name has been changed to the Panama Canal Railway Company; but it maintains its tradition of service to the Canal, the Republic of Panama and world shipping.

For over 100 years, the railroad had been identified by the initials, “P.R.R.” In 1959, it acquired its own individual herald, which was designed by the Canal’s Railroad Division. The herald is in the shape of a shield with the words “Panama Railroad” in the center to symbolize the joining of Panama and the Canal Zone. There are two stars at the top of the shield and 13 stripes below.

This ornament is issued to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Panama Railroad. In addition to depicting the unique herald of the railroad, it shows a railroad locomotive (No. 299) and two cars. “Old 299,” as it came to be known, was built in 1906 for the Panama Canal construction project and was dedicated as a railroad monument at the Balboa Railroad Station during the celebration of the railroad’s 100th anniversary in 1955.