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In 1884 construction began on the Canada Eastern Railway line from Fredericton to Chatham along the Miramichi River. By 1887 the 150 mile long line was completed although it was another two years before a bridge was built across the St. John River which allowed for a direct connection with Fredericton. An extension of the line was built from Chatham to Loggieville in 1894. Alexander "Boss" Gibson who was also one of the principal investors in the New Brunswick Railway Company invested in the railway in order to secure a reliable way to transport his timber products to market. The line operated independently until 1905 when it was taken over by the Intercolonial Railway. The Intercolonial Railway abandoned the portion of the line from Blackville to Chatham Junction (now Passmore) choosing instead to build a new line from Blackville to Nelson Junction, along an old abandoned Intercolonial track. Eventually the line became part of the Canadian National system and was operated until 1985 when the portion from McGivney to Newcastle was abandoned. The final section from McGivney to Fredericton was abandoned in 1995.