Gatun

Gatun railroad station: This station was built in the called “New Gatun” between 1907 and 1908 during the relocation of the Panama Railroad. This station served to transport workers and residents of the new town that was relocated from the original site, west to this due to the construction of the Gatun dam to create the lake with the same name. The station had two main sections, one concrete two stories building with ticket office, baggage room, waiting room and telegraph office and an open boarding platform with single roofing next to the concrete building.

This was the only station with a permanent building other than the Pacific and Atlantic terminals. Until the publication of this post, there is no exact date when the concrete building was demolished but it should be between late 1950s and early 1960s. The open boarding platform remained until the railroad ceased operations in 1996. This station had a singularity of being in a curve and with a vehicle overpass right after the station. After the railroad was brought to life again by the Panama Canal Railway Company in 2001, the route was changed and now the line does not transit Gatun anymore.

Also, Gatun town no longer exists after the new locks were opened in 2016 and the are was now between the original locks and the ones. The area is restricted to employes of the Panama Canal Authority exclusively.