First structures of the Atlantic Terminal of the Panama Railroad

First structures of the Atlantic Terminal of the Panama Railroad. In the city of Aspinwall (Colon) since the opening of the Panama Railroad in 1855 there were several structures considered to be the terminal but none of them were created as a passenger station. These structures worked as freight houses but were used also to board passengers. In 1857, the first freight house was built, a wooden structure with 5 tracks with arches on top located almost at the end of Front Street and 5th street.

However, the city suffered multiple fires in 1862, 1885, 1890 and 1891 and also an earthquake in 1882 that force to make constant modifications to the freight house because the structure was either fully destroyed or heavily damaged. In 1891 the first concrete and metal freight house was built, building that still exists. Here were located the offices of the PRR until its closure in 1958. The first passenger station was set in a wooden building right next to this freight house that worked until 1909 when the new station was built.