Together, the two companies proposed to construct a railroad between Montreal and Portland across the province of Quebec and the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Suddenly, other White Mountain towns that had enjoyed the bulk of the fast-growing tourist trade found their stagecoach connections eclipsed by Gorham and its railroad.

Construction resumed and reached the town of Northumberland, New Hampshire, on July 12, 1852, passing through the new Berlin station en route.

Meanwhile, the St. Lawrence & Atlantic built southeastward from Montreal, and the two companies had agreed on August 4, 1851, to join at the town of Island Pond, Vermont.

[1] The Grand Trunk Railway, which later became known as the Canadian National and, more recently, the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad, opened the area to tourist trade, which is now the principal industry of the community.