Patriot Realm

The Panama Canal officially opened on 15 August 1914. This date marked the completion of the canal's construction and the first successful transit of a vessel, the SS Ancon, which had been acquired by the Panama Railroad Company to haul freight, through the entire length of the canal, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The Panama Canal stands as one of the most remarkable engineering achievements in human history, a testament to our ability to conquer nature's barriers and connect distant parts of the globe. 

However, it took a railroad to build the canal. 

The length of the Panama Canal from shoreline to shoreline is about 40 miles (65 km) and from deep water in the Atlantic (more specifically, the Caribbean Sea) to deep water in the Pacific about 50 miles (82 km). It shaved 8,000 miles or about 20,000 km off the Cape Horn route through much safer waters, and it was an immediate hit with the world's shippers at the dawn of the First World War.

The Panama Railroad played a crucial role in facilitating the construction of the Panama Canal. It provided essential transportation infrastructure that supported the movement of people, equipment, and supplies needed for the monumental task of building the canal.

But let's go back in time for a moment. 

The idea of connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans dates back centuries. Spanish explorers first envisioned a passage through the Isthmus of Panama during the 16th century. However, it wasn't until the French initiated the first serious attempt in the late 19th century that the canal's construction gained momentum. The French effort, led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, the mastermind behind the Suez Canal, encountered insurmountable challenges, including tropical diseases and the rugged terrain, leading to its ultimate failure.

The Suez Canal is a relatively shallow and narrow waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea across the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt. The terrain was more favourable and less challenging for construction. In contrast, the Panama Canal had a more varied landscape, including dense rainforests, rugged mountains, and challenging elevation changes between the two oceans. 

In fact, The Panama Canal required more complex engineering solutions due to its elevation changes and varied geography. De Lesseps' experience with the simpler Suez Canal did not fully prepare him for the more intricate engineering demands of the Panama project.

Tropical diseases were a significant problem during the construction of the Panama Canal due to the region's climate, geography, and the lack of understanding about disease transmission at the time. The two most prevalent diseases that plagued the workers were malaria and yellow fever.

The tropical climate of the Panama region provided ideal conditions for disease-carrying mosquitoes to thrive. The Isthmus of Panama, where the canal was being constructed, had a hot and humid climate, which created a suitable environment for the breeding and abundant mosquitoes.

Many of the workers who came to build the canal were from non-tropical regions, and they had little to no immunity to the diseases prevalent in Panama. This lack of immunity made them highly susceptible to contracting malaria and yellow fever.

Both malaria and yellow fever are transmitted by mosquitoes. Anopheles mosquitoes were the primary carriers of malaria, while Aedes mosquitoes transmitted yellow fever. The workers were constantly exposed to these mosquitoes, increasing the likelihood of infection.

The United States took over the canal project in 1904, recognising its strategic importance for global trade and military operations. Under the guidance of an American engineer John F. Stevens, the construction began with a focus on controlling diseases like malaria and yellow fever by implementing aggressive sanitation measures. The successful battle against these deadly diseases laid the foundation for the canal's completion.

Before the Panama Canal project, Stevens was also involved in improving the Panama Railroad, which provided an important transportation route across the Isthmus of Panama. His experience with the Panama Railroad gave him invaluable insights into the challenges of working in the Panama region.

In fact, I doubt it would have been possible to build it without the railroad and that magnificent beast: the steam train. 

Here's how the railroad aided the canal construction effort:

1. Transportation of Workers and Supplies: The Panama Railroad provided a reliable means of transporting a large workforce to and from the construction sites along the canal route. The construction required a substantial labor force, and the railroad ensured that workers could travel efficiently between their living quarters and the work sites.

   1. Movement of Heavy Equipment: Constructing the canal involved moving massive machinery, equipment, and construction materials to various points along the canal's path. The railroad enabled the efficient transport of heavy equipment such as steam shovels, dredges, locomotives, and other machinery, which would have been difficult to move over the rugged terrain without proper infrastructure.

   2. Supply Chain Support: The construction of the canal required a continuous supply of construction materials, tools, and provisions. The railroad facilitated the movement of these supplies to the construction sites, helping to ensure that the work could progress without interruptions due to material shortages.

   3. Efficient Distribution: The railroad allowed for the efficient distribution of materials and resources across the length of the canal route. This was particularly important given the significant distance between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the isthmus.

   4. Medical and Sanitary Assistance: In addition to its role in transportation, the Panama Railroad also played a role in supporting the medical and sanitary efforts of John F. Stevens, who focused on controlling diseases like malaria and yellow fever. The railroad's infrastructure was used to transport workers, medical personnel, and supplies necessary for disease prevention and healthcare.

   5. Economic Boost: The existence of the railroad provided a foundation for logistical planning and operations. The railroad's presence helped facilitate the establishment of construction camps, storage facilities, and other essential infrastructure along its route.

   6. Coordination and Connectivity: The Panama Railroad served as a backbone for coordination and communication across the construction sites. It connected key areas of activity and allowed for the efficient movement of personnel, information, and resources.

In essence, the Panama Railroad acted as the backbone of logistical support for the entire construction effort. Its well-established infrastructure played a critical role in facilitating the movement of people and resources, enabling engineers and workers to overcome the formidable challenges presented by the isthmus' geography, climate, and diseases. The combination of the railroad and the engineering expertise of John F. Stevens helped lay the groundwork for the eventual success of the Panama Canal construction.

The construction of the Panama Canal was a monumental engineering task that required innovative solutions to overcome the challenging topography. The most significant hurdle was the difference in elevation between the two oceans. The solution came in the form of locks—massive chambers with water gates that raise and lower ships to navigate the varying altitudes. Three locks, known as the Gatun Locks, were built at the Atlantic end, and three more, the Miraflores Locks, at the Pacific end, each using millions of cubic meters of concrete.

The primary purpose of the Panama Canal was, and continues to be, the facilitation of maritime trade. Before its existence, ships had to undertake perilous and lengthy journeys around the southern tip of South America, a route known as the Cape Horn route. The canal's opening in 1914 drastically reduced the travel distance between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, revolutionising international trade routes and saving both time and money for global shipping companies.

Moreover, the canal's strategic significance transcended economic benefits. During World War II, the Panama Canal played a vital role in the movement of military vessels and resources between the Atlantic and Pacific theatres. Its control has also been a matter of geopolitical importance, leading to the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties that outlined the gradual transfer of canal control from the United States to Panama, culminating in full Panamanian control in 1999.

In 2016, the canal underwent a significant expansion known as the "Panama Canal Expansion Project" or "Panama Canal Third Set of Locks." This expansion introduced a new set of locks, the "Panama Canal Locks," capable of accommodating larger "New Panamax" vessels. This development further solidified the canal's position as a crucial conduit for global trade.

Without the railroad, I wonder: would it have been possible ? Perhaps it is fair to say that the Industrial Revolution gave birth to the Panama Canal. 

Please enjoy the videos in this article. They are well worth your time. Monty