St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad
This road was opened for traffic to Richmond, on the St-Francis River, on the 15th. instant, with the observance of ceremonies usual 
on each occasions. At half past eight o’clock, a.m., the president and directors, together with many distinguished guests, assembled on board the Ste. Helene, at the Jacques Cartier wharf, whence the proceeded to Longueuil. There the party were disposed of in four large cars, attached to a new locomotive called the St. Lawrence, and left Longueuil at 9:10, a.m. The following is a memorandum of the time to the different stations, and their distances from Longueuil:
Miles. Time.
St. Hilaire 17 9:40
St. Hyacinthe 30 10:27
Upton Tank 40 11:00
Upton Station 43 11:05
Wood near Acton 48 11:20
Acton Station 49 11:32
Durham Station 57 12:00
Durham Tank 64 12:22
St.Francis Bridge 68 12:45
Richmond 71 12:55
Within three miles of the beautiful village of St.Hyacinthe, the road gives into the thick woods, and pierces them for a distance of 35 miles without a clearing, and without a single dwelling house, except occasionally a workman’s shanty.
Near the Upton station, the line crosses first the Black river, and then the White river, by bridges of the most solid construction. The bridge over the St. Francis is a beautiful and most substantial piece of workmanship. With a train of 70 tons, the deflection of the bridge was less than half an inch, scarcely in fact perceptible.
At the Richmond station, a distance of three miles from the bridge, the party were greeted by great crowd of people from the surrounding townships, who had congregated to meet them.
In the temporary station house reared here, a most substantial collation was spread upon two tables running its extreme length. After the dinner was disposed of, the chairman proposed “ the Queen,” which was drunk with enthusiasm.
The next toast was “ the Governor General,” which was well received. The chairman then gave “ the Provincial Administration,” for which the Hon. Mr. Lafontaine returned thanks, concluding by proposing the health of Mr. Galt, president of the road, which was warmly responded to by the company, and appropriately acknowledged by that gentleman.
“The Sister Colonies” was then drunk. To which Mr. Fairbanks, of Halifax, responded.
“The Sister Company in Maine” was next proposed. Mr. Galt said that it was now six years since the enterprise the were celebrating was first though of, some of them years of success, others of them years of gloom, but now he had not a shadow of a doubt that next year, the communication would be open from Montreal to Portland; 91 miles were now in operation, 31 more would be opened in the spring, and 35 more far advance, leaving 60 to complete, and that distance would be, unless great difficulties came in the way. The next time they met, they would meet in Portland. He then complimented the other roads, and was glad to see so many representatives from them present. There could be no jealousy among them, as he believed there would be trade enough for all.
“ The Railroads of Canada” was responded to by the Hon. John Molson, who reciprocated the friendly sentiments of Mr. Galt. 
“The Mayor, Corporation and Citizens of Montreal,” was proposed by Mr. Young, the vice president, and was replied to by the mayor, who felt gratified that the city had taken so large an interest in the road. Mr. Leemng then gave the “ Vice President and Directors of the Company,” to which Mr. Young, being loudly called for, replied in becoming terms, humorously remarking, that they were now fairly “ out of the woods,” and nothing more would occur to prevent the road being opened to Sherbrooke in June, and to Portland by the close of the next year.
The company then broke up and returned to Montreal.
Pull from: American railroad journal