La arquitectura ferroviaria de la ciudad de Colón: hito en la historia de la ruta de tránsito por Panamá



Document title: La arquitectura ferroviaria de la ciudad de Colón: hito en la historia de la ruta de tránsito por Panamá
Journal: Canto rodado
Database: CLASE
System number: 000473083
ISSN: 1818-2917
Authors: 1
Institutions: 1Universidad Nacional de Panamá, Facultad de Arquitectura, Ciudad de Panamá. Panamá
Year:
Number: 12
Pages: 171-194
Country: Panamá
Language: Español
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Descriptivo
Spanish abstract La ciudad de Colón fue creada promediando el siglo XIX como terminal atlántica del ferrocarril de Panamá. Para su desarrollo se construyó un emplazamiento totalmente nuevo, basado en modelos urbanos sin precedentes en Panamá, donde las instalaciones ferroviarias constituyeron referentes urbanos sin grandes cambios durante esos 100 años. A partir de la construcción del canal norteamericano, la nueva centuria trajo aires de renovaciones al ferrocarril al transformarse en elemento medular para la marcha fluida de las obras del Canal Interoceánico. En 1958, después de cien años de existencia, el ferrocarril fue desplazado de su lugar de origen hacia la periferia de la ciudad. El cese de actividad ferroviaria significó el olvido y decaimiento del sitio origen de la ciudad. Sin embargo, al cabo de cuatro décadas la comunidad reconoció su valor simbólico declarando Monumento Nacional las estaciones del tren. El tiempo ha probado, sin embargo, que la eficiencia de la ley es limitadísima y la protección efectiva requiere la gestión integral del patrimonio
English abstract The city of Colon was founded in the mid-nineteenth century as the Atlantic terminus of interoceanic railroad along Panama. The railroad company introduced new planning models, architectural styles, and building technologies that changed the urban scene of the terminal cities in the trans isthmian route alongside Panama. The original railway facilities were landmarks in the city of Colon due to its economic roll, its high number of passengers, and the architectural models used to build it. These new models were totally foreign to the traditional Panamanian architectural scene, based on Spanish colonial models for more than three centuries. Even though, railroad technology, architectural fashions and catastrophes occurred buildings slightly evolved during the 19th century. In contrast the early 20th century was a time of mayor changes brought by the new canal project. During the early days of the American Canal, the railway system was totally renewed and modern construction technologies introduced to the cities of Colon and Panama. Therefore the metamorphosis of specific buildings and the city as a whole was much more evident than any time before. Along the 20th century the Freight House and Passengers terminal continued functioning without major use and architectural changes until 1958, when profound transformations in the administration of the territory run by the Canal Zone in Colon City happened. As a result of it, both stations were closed and later abandoned for many years. By the 1990s decade the community of Colon recognized the train terminals as material evidence of the early days of the interoceanic route through Panama. Therefore, in a due time, both buildings were declared national heritage, but its recovery is still pending
Disciplines: Historia
Keyword: Historia regional,
Arquitectura,
Edificios,
Industria ferroviaria,
Patrimonio,
Colón,
Panamá
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