The Panama Canal (2014)

[shm]

Sorry, but I might have been a little enthusiastic on the photo-adding - anyway here we go

Coming from the Pacific side. Puente de Las Américas at about 07:20 am (Panama City)

Preparing the locomotives for work

Two ships in the first set of locks

When the lock doors are closed, it is possible to walk across the canal

Heading into the Culebra Cut passing under Puente Centenario

Construction work on the new set of locks (opened in 2016)

The Culebra Cut - when this photo was taken in 2014, it was only possible to sail in one direction at the time, with the new set of locks, they opened up the Culebra Cut so it now is possible to sail both ways at the same time

The excavators are at work year round to remove debris from the canal. It is earthquake area and the mountains the canal has been cut through consist of fairly porous material

Gatun Lake. Besides just crossing it, it is also used as a parking lot for ships which hasn't paid the fee to get a fixed time to cross the canal.

Gatun Dam, used to generate hydroelectric power

A couple of photos to show the drop

It is also possible for cars to cross the canal when the lock doors are closed

 

[shm]

Second batch

It is a tight fit for Panamax ships

Photographing - both ways

Parts of the doors for the new locks can be seen in the background

100 year old doors still working like a charm

One locomotive working and one returning to the start of the lock

Working at the lock
4-6 locomotives or "mules" are handling the ships in the locks. The mules are made by Mitsubishi; the first eight cost U$2.3 million each, and the later deliveries U$1.9 million each.

Old and new mule

A part of the doors for the new set of locks. The new locks re-use the water from the chamber, as there is not enough water in the lake to also fascilitate the new and larger locks

and last, a photo of the floating hotel that took us through the canal; Celebrity Infinity

 

[Falmike]

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing

 

[magoo75]

Good job on the photos, made that trip back in the early 90’s. Brings back memory’s.

 

[Scrape&Splash]

Beautiful photos!

My wife went through one of the canal locks when she was a little kid and it is one of her most memorable childhood moments. They are significant civil engineering achievements.

 

[troy]

Great work, thanks for sharing!

 

[Cash_Stronomer]

Great Thread, Great Shots!!

 

[shm]

Thank you very much Gents

 

[2Vu5_T]

Awesome pics! Thanks for posting. I have David McCullough's 1977 book The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914. I started it and need to finish it!

 

[MarkM10431]

Great shots. I've been through that "Ditch" 4 times and the other "Ditch" (suez) 6 times in my 20 years in the Navy