McAdam's railway history is traced to the 1850s–1860s when the St. Andrews and Quebec Railway was built through the area on the way toward Woodstock using a survey from the 1840s when the Canada–United States border north of the Saint Croix River was undecided and British North America stood a reasonable chance of acquiring title to the entire Saint John River watershed.

The Aroostook War and the Webster–Ashburton Treaty settled the current boundary and eliminated any chance of the SA&Q building across that territory.

The station was commissioned by legendary CPR President Sir William Van Horne who maintained an exclusive private estate in St. Andrews on Minister's Island.

It was built of local granite and located at the western end of the wye leading to St. Andrews from the Montreal-Saint John main line.

The central portion of the ground floor has a more formal dining room and the kitchen area which served both eating establishments.

During World War II, many troop trains departed from the station towards Halifax for deployment overseas.

[4] Since 2023, railway pies have been served again on Sundays at the lunch counter, run by the McAdam Station Museum.

The CPR sold its line through McAdam to the New Brunswick Southern Railway but the station has been vacant since Via Rail service was terminated in December 1994.

The Government of New Brunswick, Parks Canada and The McAdam Historical Restoration Commission (which operates and manages the station) invested nearly $400,000 for the continued success of the facility.

The stamp features an image of the McAdam Railway station, which was designed by Montreal architect Edward Maxwell.