110 Years of the Chiriquí National Railroad

Today we celebrate the 110th anniversary of the inauguration of the Panama Railroad's sister railroad: the Chiriquí National Railroad.

It was inaugurated by President Belisario Porras in 1916 at a cost of 21 million dollars. It began with the route between the port of Pedregal and Boquete, and over the years new branch lines were added connecting much of the western part of the province of Chiriquí.

It was key for transporting bananas to be marketed by the United Fruit Company. At the peak of its operation, it had approximately 160 km of track with a 3-foot gauge.

To commemorate this date, the group Amigos Pro Rescate del Ferrocarril Nacional de Chiriquí organized an excellent event with various activities highlighting the importance of this railroad in the economic and social development of Chiriquí over the years.