It would be completed on July 17, 1877, with Governor Horace Fairbanks driving in the silver spike in Fletcher.

Although the railroad had plans on expansion to Lake Ontario, the line originally ended at Swanton.

The Boston & Maine operated their segment as the St. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain Railroad after 1925.

The remaining 10% was bridge line traffic (westbound paper and eastbound feed) for the Maine Central Railroad Mountain Division.

Light-duty rail and covered bridges prevented the line from accepting new heavier "incentive" freight car loadings.