Original Line Station: Lion Hill

Lion Hill: With this publication, the description of the stations of the Panama Railroad begins, covering those that existed from its inauguration in 1855 until the completion of the Panama Canal. These stations, along with their surrounding settlements, were submerged in the depths of Gatun Lake. Lion Hill was a small town located 10.6 miles from the Atlantic terminal in Colón. It was a strategic stop for passengers crossing the Isthmus and for railroad operations, where steam locomotives were resupplied with water and fuel.

Just before its relocation in 1908, the town had a population of only 60 people, with 90% of its residents being Black. The settlement ceased to exist with the creation of Gatun Lake, but the station itself was abandoned around 1910 when the railway line was relocated to make way for the Panama Canal. In the first photo, the small wooden station can be seen already abandoned. The second image provides a brief view of the town from the railway line, and the third shows its location on a map, placing the town almost at the center of the Panama Canal’s navigable route.