Construction began in earnest in 1868, and proceeded fitfully until 1875, when the line was finally completed and the first train made the trip.
During construction two major obstacles were overcome: a one mile (1.6 km) long cut in Stanley Hill, and a substantial trestle over the Quechee Gorge, formed by the Ottauquechee River, The original trestle was replaced first by a wooden arch bridge, then in 1911 by one made of steel.
About a 3-mile portion of Rt4 was built on top of the railbed at a point immediately west of the gorge and thus eastward, as attested by the gradual grade and gentle curvatures of the reverse curves encountered upon today's Rt4.
[1] Portions of the railbed west of the gorge remain visible along the north side of Rt4.
It can be seen from the road as it shoots east out of Woodstock through certain fields, makes up treelines and fencelines, and in places it lays at the bottom of Rt4's embankment sandwiched tight between Rt4 and the river.