The picture above shows a pair of bookends fashioned out of a cross section of
the earlier Panama Railroad "hollow" rails, mounted on Panama
Railroad wooden ties.
Inverted U Rail
1853-1869
The Inverted U rail, weighed 53 lbs to the yard, and was the first rail used on the railroad.
70 lb. Wrought Iron Rail
1865-1879
From 1865-1879 the 70lb. wrought iron rail was used.
First Steel Rail
1876-1907
From 1876-1907 the first steel rail was used. It weighed 50 lbs
