In 1890 the Northern and Western was reorganized and became the Canada Eastern Railway Company, of which Gibson became the sole owner in 1893.

The mainline of the National Transcontinental Railway (NTR), another government concern, was built in 1912, creating a major junction at McGivney.

Canada Eastern and later the Intercolonial and CNR passenger trains along the line were given the nickname "Dungarvon Whooper" in reference to a local ghost story.

The section south of McGivney to Fredericton was officially abandoned in 1995, although the last train over this portion of the line (CN's Nashwaak Subdivision) operated in March 1996 with a coal shipment to a heating plant at CFB Gagetown.

The only original trackage of the Canada Eastern that remains in service is operated by the New Brunswick East Coast Railway between Nelson and Chatham.