Casco Viejo, San Felipe

Panama City, Panama

One of these days, the headline in La Prensa might read, “Tram Service in Casco Antiguo Returns”. That would be something to get excited about. The first trams in 1893 were electric. You can still see the original tracks on Avenida Central starting from Calle Segunda all the way past Santa Ana Plaza to the end of the walking portion of Avenida Central. In the early days, trams competed with horse drawn buggies as a mode of transportation. Allen Morrison, author of The Tramways of Panama City” has included a number of interesting black and white photos of the trams. Trying to recognize the buildings in the background is quiz material for Panamanian historians. Cars and buses present major traffic and parking problems in historic cities, especially if there are narrow streets. Trams could be a picturesque solution.