panama canal railway tour, panama canal train tour
Despite lasting just over an hour, the Panama Canal Railway is considered by many to be one of the world's great train rides, and if you experience it, you will understand why.
The railway spans the entire canal length and dates back to the mid-1800s. When construction concluded in 1855, it was the world's first transcontinental railway.
We hear so much about the Panama Canal; people are surprised to learn that the railway was operating for 60 years before construction on the Panama Canal concluded and played an instrumental role during the canal's initial construction period.
The Panama Canal Railway website contains intriguing information about the railway's history and is well worth a visit.
Note: Unfortunately, since the COVID lock-down, the Panama Canal Railway no longer offers regularly scheduled passenger service between Panama City and Colon. As a result, I haven't been able to ride on the train. I'll update the site when possible.
Panama Canal Railway – en route to Colon, the train is crossing over the Chagres River with the canal off to its left side. Before the completion of the new bridge, which resides just to the left, this old wooden bridge served dual purposes; you can see the lane for vehicular traffic left of the train. If you participate in the Monkey Island excursion, your tour boat will pass under both bridges.
A trip aboard the railroad gives visitors a unique perspective of the Panama Canal. When traveling between Panama City and Barro Colorado Island, the train remains close to the canal, passing alongside Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks. It then briefly moves inland as it winds through the famous Gaillard Cut. Further north, after passing Barro Colorado Island, it spends most of its time in the open when crossing Gatun Lake.
The passenger cars are comfortable, well-appointed, air-conditioned and have large windows and glass ceilings, providing spectacular, unobstructed views of the surroundings.
The Panama Canal Railway excursion is an excellent option for a relaxing, joyful, and memorable ride. I highly recommend it.
The boarding station in Colon is only 10-15 minutes from the cruise ports, maybe less. On the Pacific, the station resides in Corozal, near Albrook Airport, Panama City's domestic airport. If returning to Perico Island, the 20-25 minute bus ride will take you through a scenic portion of Panama City and along the Amador Causeway past the Biodiversity Museum.
Google Map - Panama City Terminal
You will find little use for a telephoto lens on this excursion. Instead, a wide-angle lens, or even a cell phone or action camera, is what you need to take pictures inside the passenger car. A built-in or external flash would help.