Motor Car 4 was a VIP vehicle for observing the on-going construction of the canal or other special events. Note the well dressed awaiting to use the vehicle.
Malcolm’s description is perfect. The gentleman in the white suit is Chief Engineer Goethals & the fellow in the back is the driver. Interesting that he was included in the picture with the VIPs….. Viva Democracy!
Sorry can’t help you with this picture as it was before my time. Also some of the schools I don’t kow much about them unless I or my children went to them or my husband!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“THE ‘YELLOW PERIL’ and its Number One passenger. The motorcar still bore No. 4 when this picture was taken in the Panama Railroad yard in 1913 during a visit of Secretary of War and Mrs. Lindley Garrison. Samuel Grier, motorman of the ‘Yellow Peril,’ is at the far left. Colonel Goethals is standing between Secretary and Mrs. Garrison. Others in the picture are visitors from Washington who accompanied the Secretary of War on his trip to the Canal Zone.” PC Review
The “Yellow Peril” was also know as the “Brain Car”.
The gentleman in white second from the left is Col/General Goethals. The woman to his left could be Mrs. Effie Rodman Goethals, but she was seemingly not on the zone very much.
The guy standing to the left of Colonel Goethals (photo right) looks a lot like Thomas Edison. I know that General Electric designed the control features of the locks and the hydro plants. I also know that the original plan was to electrify the railway and that is one of the reasons why the power lines run above them. Does anyone know if Thomas Edison was ever on the isthmus? Even the street lights in Gatun had the GE logo embossed on them.
“The Panama Canal and Yankee Stadium are made of cement supplied by Edison. The profits from his cement company kept the inventor going when many of his new fail inventions failed.”
Yes, this vehicle was used by Colonel Goethals to tour and inspect the contruction of the canal. He of course is the genetleman dressed in white. I am pretty sure that the lady is Mrs. Goethals. I also believe that the gentleman on the far right with the hat on, is the Army Colonel reporting to Goethals who was overall responsible for constuction on the Northen portion of the Canal (Port of Cristobal, Gatun Dam, Gatun Locks, etc.)
10 Comments
Malcolm Stone
Motor Car 4 was a VIP vehicle for observing the on-going construction of the canal or other special events. Note the well dressed awaiting to use the vehicle.
Nina Brown Kosik
Malcolm’s description is perfect. The gentleman in the white suit is Chief Engineer Goethals & the fellow in the back is the driver. Interesting that he was included in the picture with the VIPs….. Viva Democracy!
Diane L. French
Sorry can’t help you with this picture as it was before my time. Also some of the schools I don’t kow much about them unless I or my children went to them or my husband!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roy Blades
The vehicle was called the yellow peril.it was Chief Goethals ride.
Jo
“THE ‘YELLOW PERIL’ and its Number One passenger. The motorcar still bore No. 4 when this picture was taken in the Panama Railroad yard in 1913 during a visit of Secretary of War and Mrs. Lindley Garrison. Samuel Grier, motorman of the ‘Yellow Peril,’ is at the far left. Colonel Goethals is standing between Secretary and Mrs. Garrison. Others in the picture are visitors from Washington who accompanied the Secretary of War on his trip to the Canal Zone.” PC Review
The “Yellow Peril” was also know as the “Brain Car”.
Linda S. York
The gentleman in white second from the left is Col/General Goethals. The woman to his left could be Mrs. Effie Rodman Goethals, but she was seemingly not on the zone very much.
Robert Dillon
The guy standing to the left of Colonel Goethals (photo right) looks a lot like Thomas Edison. I know that General Electric designed the control features of the locks and the hydro plants. I also know that the original plan was to electrify the railway and that is one of the reasons why the power lines run above them. Does anyone know if Thomas Edison was ever on the isthmus? Even the street lights in Gatun had the GE logo embossed on them.
Robert Dillon
Here’s an interesting tidbit…
“The Panama Canal and Yankee Stadium are made of cement supplied by Edison. The profits from his cement company kept the inventor going when many of his new fail inventions failed.”
From…
http://www.history.co.uk/biographies/thomas-edison
Walter G Brown
Yes, this vehicle was used by Colonel Goethals to tour and inspect the contruction of the canal. He of course is the genetleman dressed in white. I am pretty sure that the lady is Mrs. Goethals. I also believe that the gentleman on the far right with the hat on, is the Army Colonel reporting to Goethals who was overall responsible for constuction on the Northen portion of the Canal (Port of Cristobal, Gatun Dam, Gatun Locks, etc.)
Bill McLaughlin
Just ran across your object of the day – Panama Canal Motor Car No. 4 – June 30, 2014
Should be Motor Car No. 1 – the Yellow Peril
See information needed for this photo at: https://czimages.com/CZMemories/Photos/photoof1138.htm