During the 1800s, St. Croix developed as an isolated lumbering settlement, however in the 1860s the community was selected for the crossing point for the European & North American Railway (Western Extension) which was constructing a line from Saint John to Vanceboro.
An iron railway bridge on stone piers was constructed over the St. Croix, measuring approximately 30 metres (100 feet) in length.
The opening ceremony in 1871 of the railway line between the two countries was attended by Governor General of Canada Lord Lisgar and President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant.
In 1889 the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) purchased the NBR and constructed the International Railway of Maine to connect Montreal to the ice free winter port of Saint John, leasing trackage rights over the section owned by the Maine Central between Vanceboro and Mattawamkeag.
In 1988, CP Rail placed all of its lines east of Montreal, including the mainline through St. Croix and Vanceboro under a separate business unit called Canadian Atlantic Railway.