History of Locomotive 299

Did you know that the Panama Railroad kept steam locomotives until 1979?

Today we tell you the story of locomotive 299, a true relic loaded with history. It was built in 1906 by the American Locomotive Company, as part of the first and largest order of railroad equipment for the construction of the Panama Canal, under the direction of the Isthmian Canal Commission.

With a 2-6-0 wheel configuration and 54-inch driving wheels, this locomotive played a fundamental role during the canal's construction. It operated intensively on work trains, worker transport, and excavated material hauling, being a key piece in one of the most important engineering works of the 20th century.

After the canal was completed, locomotive 299 was incorporated into regular passenger service between the cities of Panama and Colón. Over time, it became the only one of its kind to be preserved within Panamanian territory.

In January 1955, on the occasion of the Panama Railroad centennial, the locomotive was restored and displayed at Balboa station, in an event that attracted numerous visitors and reaffirmed its historical value.

For years, it remained as a symbol of the technological legacy that made the canal's construction possible, visited by both residents and tourists of the former Canal Zone.

Finally, in 1979, with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties coming into effect, the canal administration decided to relocate it. From the port of Balboa it was transported to Cristóbal, and subsequently sent to the United States.

Today, locomotive 299 is on display at the Paterson Museum in the state of New Jersey, the city where it was built, where it continues to captivate thousands of visitors each year, keeping alive an essential part of the Panama Canal's history.