They took possession of a section of former Canadian National branch line trackage which ran from CN's Moncton-Saint John mainline at Salisbury east to just beyond the village of Hillsborough, approximately 20 miles (32 km) away.
[6][7] The S&H initially operated historic CN and Canadian Pacific steam locomotives Numbers 29 and 1009, which had been used in New Brunswick until the early 1960s when both railways completely dieselized.
A third steam locomotive, Sydney and Louisburg 42, was used briefly in the early-mid 1980s, but it was quickly removed from service to undergo boiler work.
42 was later returned to its owner, the Nova Scotia Museum of Industry.
[9] On 16 September 1994, a fire occurred which destroyed the engine-house and several engines and carriages within, as well as offices and historical records.