good to hear that it is still going. I took Canal cruise in 1987, when it was still run by US. Awesome experience, one I will never forget. Did not even see the train running, and no shore excursions were even offered at Panama City. Noreiga was still in charge, if people wanted to sightsee, they were told to go in a group. Same thing in Acapulco, crime was bad. One of the ship wine stewards was robbed and stabbed in the leg, as he was taking pics of the ship. People helped him back where the ship doctor stitched him up. I am sure there are a lot of changes in those areas today, or maybe not.
I went through the Canal on a sailboat in January 2013. A few places where the railroad is right alongside the Canal I saw some MAERSK container trains and a passenger train in beautiful KCS "Southern Belle" colors, all making decent speed. I sailed there in Oct. '75 and rode the train from Cristobal/Colon to Panama City, and return. About 4-5 ex Reading coaches pulled by an Alco RS-3. The stations at that time are no longer in use today (the Panama City one is now a McDonalds!). I think today's operations are for cruise ship passengers as a shore excursion. The present stations are really not convenient for regular Panamanians to use the service.
KCS put in wielded rail and concrete ties....GREAT ride a couple of years ago....as they tout, theirs was the first trans continental RR, up here in the north, was second.
John Stevens had an interesting comment about the Panama Railroad shortly after he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Panama Canal. One of the other engineers noted that there hadn't been any collisions on the railroad over the last few months. Stevens replied that a collision has positive as well as negative aspects, it shows that something is moving on the railroad.
Thanks for the info. In the 80's the locals did not ride the rail due to the 2-3-4 erailments a week. Good to hear it's still a revenue mader.
hontellWife and I rode it a few years ago, well worth it.
WE HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON. I TOO RODE IT, BUT BACK IN 1968. I WAS PRIVILAGED TO BE A FRIEND OF THE ENGINEER AND RODE THE HEAD END. HE AND I WERE AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS. I WAS THERE COMPLIMENTS OF UNCLE SAM, ALL EXPENSES PAID FOR 18 MONTHS. HOWARD AFB, PACIFIC SIDE.
I TOO, AGREE THAT THE TRAINS ARTICLE ON THE PRESENT DAY RR THERE IS EXCELLENT. A GOOD READ INDEED. mike endmrw0704181400
It is still in operation.
The January 2014 issue contains a excellent article on the railway, its business (both freight and passenger) and potential future.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
What is the status of The Panama Canal Railway as reported in Sept. 2002??
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