St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad

The Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad is a former railroad in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont ( United States). It built and operated a 240 km long main route from Portland to Iceland Pond and existed as an independent company of 1845 until 1960.

The company was first established on 10 February 1845 in Maine, on July 30, 1847 but also in New Hampshire and on October 27, 1848 Finally, in Vermont. Since it was intended from the outset to connect the line to the Canadian rail network, was chosen the track width of 5.5 feet ( 1676 mm), which was widely used in Canada. The line was opened in sections until 1853.

With effect from 1 July 1853, the Grand Trunk Railway leased (GTR ), the Atlantic & St. Lawrence for 999 years. 1874 spurts the GTR on the track to standard gauge. Only in 1960 was the dissolution of the Atlantic & St. Lawrence through the merger with the Canadian National Railways, which had taken over the GTR. The range is up to the section between Portland and the goods station East Deering still in operation today and is part of the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad. This company belongs to the Emons Transportation Group. In Portland, there is today a part of the disused track piece, the narrow gauge museum railway of the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum.