Post by stevew on Jan 28, 2019 14:57:31 GMT
Panama Railroad completion centennial commemorative (1855/1955)
Scott#147
On Jan 28. 1855, the Panama Railroad was completed across the isthmus. It was the first rail line in the Americas to link the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the feat made easier by the fact that only 50 miles of land separated them at that location. Some of the impetus for completing the line was the increased traffic from the US east coast to San Francisco because of the 1849 gold rush (construction began in 1850). Many people requested that the Canal Zone Postal Service issue a commemorative stamp for the 100th anniversary. This was done, and on the day of issue there were several first day ceremonies. One was a special train ride, with many of the passengers dressed in clothing reminiscent of the pre-Civil War era. When this train arrived at Balboa Heights, the governor presided over another ceremony for the retirement and dedication of "Ole 299", one of the workhorse engines used during construction of the canal. On that day it was placed on display at the Balboa train station, C.Z. It occupied that spot until 1979, when it was shipped to a railway museum in Patterson NJ (the site of the locomotive works where 299 was originally built), where it resides today. The railroad post office was resurrected for the day (it having been discontinued in 1954) to provide special first day postmarks as shown on the cover below which my grandparents obtained (it bears their address).
994,000 copies of the CZ railroad commemorative stamp were issued, and 34,789 first day covers were serviced with the special RPO postmark. Shown below is the stamp, an FDC with the RPO postmark, and below that a couple pictures of a 1959 visit to 299 at Balboa station. I'm the kid above the "2".
Scott#147
On Jan 28. 1855, the Panama Railroad was completed across the isthmus. It was the first rail line in the Americas to link the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the feat made easier by the fact that only 50 miles of land separated them at that location. Some of the impetus for completing the line was the increased traffic from the US east coast to San Francisco because of the 1849 gold rush (construction began in 1850). Many people requested that the Canal Zone Postal Service issue a commemorative stamp for the 100th anniversary. This was done, and on the day of issue there were several first day ceremonies. One was a special train ride, with many of the passengers dressed in clothing reminiscent of the pre-Civil War era. When this train arrived at Balboa Heights, the governor presided over another ceremony for the retirement and dedication of "Ole 299", one of the workhorse engines used during construction of the canal. On that day it was placed on display at the Balboa train station, C.Z. It occupied that spot until 1979, when it was shipped to a railway museum in Patterson NJ (the site of the locomotive works where 299 was originally built), where it resides today. The railroad post office was resurrected for the day (it having been discontinued in 1954) to provide special first day postmarks as shown on the cover below which my grandparents obtained (it bears their address).
994,000 copies of the CZ railroad commemorative stamp were issued, and 34,789 first day covers were serviced with the special RPO postmark. Shown below is the stamp, an FDC with the RPO postmark, and below that a couple pictures of a 1959 visit to 299 at Balboa station. I'm the kid above the "2".
