Some great old pictures of a transit through the Panama Canal, sometime in the 1930s. My parents found these pics in a photo album but don’t know who they belonged to.
The Rangitane was built in 1929 for the Britain-NZ route, and in 1940 was one of the largest passenger liners to be sunk during World War II, about 300 miles east of NZ.
The captions were hand-written on the back of some photos, or on some old postcards.
Entering the first lock of the Panama Canal, by Gatun Locks. The ship is about 3 miles from Colon and the Caribbean Sea and this is really the beginning of the Canal. 
The “mule” is ascending from one lock to the other. Some gradient! 
In the Canal looking aft. Note lock gates just closing. 
Gaillard or Culebra Cut, Panama Canal. 
Passing another ship (a German) in the Gaillard Cut. If you look at the wake of the other ship you see how close they go to the sides to pass. 
A fine waterfall in the Canal to which the photo does not do justice. 
View at the Miraflores Locks. Note the house built on piles owing to marsh and reptiles. 
Looking towards the Atlantic. 
Panama Canal, Approaching Pedro Miguel Locks, 1917 
Miraflores Locks, Looking West, Panama Canal 1924 
Golden Hill, Culebra Cut, Panama Canal 
Panama Harbour. See the Romeo and Juliet balcony on the building, only Romeo would have had to swim. Taken through the railings in front of the President’s Palace. 
A view of Panama City. Notice the tropical growth. Look at native boys between lamppost and wall. Not as nice as it looks! 
Panama City – The market 
Old Panama City. The Cathedral (now in ruins) built by the Spaniards in the year dot. Old Panama is completely desolate. 