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 CRANES (MACHINE HISTORY) PANAMA CANAL

ORIGINS OF MODERN DAY CRANES

Cranes are lifting machines equipped with a winder, wire ropes or chains and sheaves that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. Put in basic terms cranes use one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage to enable the movement of loads beyond the normal capability of a human. The principles of operation of today's cranes is taken for granted, however, we thought you might be interested in learning a bit about the history of cranes and their development into the modern age of technology.  Throughout the history of mankind, cranes in one form or another have been used to assist in lifting items of great weight. There are various photographs of cranes used in the construction of the Panama Canal that assisted in the performance of this incredible feat of engineering.  We hope you enjoy the information provided in this section of our site. 

CRANES EQUIPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PANAMA CANAL 

BRIDGES CROSSING THE PANAMA CANAL AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION
From the beginning of the works in the canal by the French, it was noted that there would be a break in the link between the cities of Panama and Colon with the rest of the republic, once the country was split in two parts. With the arrival of the Americans in 1904, as the new leaders in the struggle to carry forth this monumental task, the transportation problem became increasingly greater. This situation was solved in part by transit on the barges that crossed the Gatun locks area.

GAMBOA BRIDGE
French plans for a sea level canal called for a dam across the Chagres River at Gamboa to retain the Chagres in a large lake while a channel known as the east diversion, carried its waters to the Atlantic. In 1887 when the French Company switched to a temporary lock canal, they continued planning for a Gamboa dam. This would have supplied water for the locks which were to be built at Bohio Soldado about 8 miles south of Gatun on the Atlantic side and between La Boca and Paraiso on the Pacific side.

The French built a bridge over the Chagres River at Gamboa, over which materials were hauled across to the nearby spillway. The bridge was about 365 feet long, the north span being a girder about 58 feet long. In a flood in 1890 this girder was carried away and the pier on which the channel end of it rested was tipped. When work on the Panama Railroad relocation bridge at Gamboa was started in 1907, the pier was righted and the two truss spans used for construction purposes.

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EMPIRE SUSPENSION BRIDGE
The town site of Empire was located south of Las Cascadas. Empire was the headquarters for the central division of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Some shops were located here for use in overhauling the steam shovels used in Culebra Cut. The name of Empire, is a misinterpretation of the original Spanish name “Emperador” (Emperor). Before the opening of the Panama Railroad, the pack trail from Gorgona to Panama crossed the line of the present Panama Canal, passing the head waters of the Obispo River and through the hills to the Cruces Trail and Panama. The “49ers” put up at Empire on their way across the Isthmus to California. Empire was the site of the largest French construction town, and it was here that the French moved the first earth from Culebra Cut in 1882 with the use of CRANES and other heavy construction equipment. The US used the French shops here to repair their steam shovels, and Colonel Gaillard and other officials lived here. The town was also the base for the division engineers. Headquarters for the Canal auditing system which was headed first by H.L. Strunz and later by H.A.A. Smith and others were also located at Empire.

A suspension bridge carrying air hoses, water mains, and a roadway crossed the Cut at this point. The Empire Suspension Bridge was a one lane bridge constructed in 1909 to carry water and compressed air pipelines during canal construction in the Culebra Cut, but was also used as a roadway.  Its main cables were steel wire with a main span of 600 feet.  The Bridge was a temporary structure torn down before the canal was ready for operation. 

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Empire Suspension Bridge

 Working in the Culbera Cut Empire Suspension Bridge in background

Culebra Cut showing Empire Suspension Bridge span circa 1909

Culebra Cut circa 1914

 Hydro-biplane passing over Culebra Cut. Empire suspension bridge in foreground. Two ICC workers having their picture taken include Fowler's plane passing over.

Dismantling Empire Suspension Bridge - note cranes in background
Several attempts had been made in the past to cross the Isthmus in a heavier than air flying machine, but none were successful until April 27, 1913, when Robert G. Fowler, the aviator, accompanied by R.A. Duhem, photographer left the Pacific entrance to the Canal at 10 a.m., and arrived at Cristobal Point on the Atlantic side at 10:57 a.m. The route of the canal was followed closely, the aviator making a circle at Culebra, in order to obtain views of all parts of Culebra Cut. The highest altitude attained during the flight was 1,800 feet; the lowest height at which the plane flew was 400 feet.
PARAISO PONTOON BRIDGE
A high trestle railway bridge known as No. 57˝, was originally installed over the Canal at Paraiso by the Panama Railroad Company.  Cranes were used to lift the heavy support structure into place.  Later a pontoon bridge was constructed because it obstructed navigation of the Canal when the water was let into the Cut.  The pontoon bridge was used for the trains until the tracks were relocated on the east bank. The swinging pontoon bridge at Paraiso was installed in 1913, but was removed after a number of years in favor of a barge while construction of a ferry at La Boca was in progress and finished in 1932. 

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High trestle for embankment fill Train crossing high trestle  Bridge in open position Train crossing canal circa 1914

MIRAFLORES SWING BRIDGE
On June 3, 1942, a road/rail swing bridge was inaugurated at the Miraflores locks; although only usable when no ships were passing, this provided some relief for traffic wishing to cross the canal.

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Opening of Bridge 1942

                                             Miraflores Swing Bridge and locks

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