Hospital Car

Hospital Cars: These railcars were manufactured in the industrial workshops of the Canal Zone and entered into service in 1905.

Under the direction of Dr. Henry Carter, who at the time was leading the hospitals in the area, the idea of "hospital cars" emerged. They were conceived as an extension of medical services. These were specially adapted railroad cars equipped with canvas beds. Their purpose was clear: to provide a fast and efficient means of transporting patients in case of emergency. In 1919, The Panama Canal Record published the Panama Railroad regulations, which included a clause regarding the use of hospital cars. Their use was strictly limited to the transportation of patients, with no accompanying persons allowed. The railroad employed personnel responsible for ensuring the proper use of these cars. There was one stationed at each railroad terminal, in Panama City and Colón. In 1919, an additional car was built to replace the early 20th-century models and remained in the rolling stock fleet until 1951, when they were retired and replaced by ground ambulances.