It would not be until the 1900's that they thought of and installed
a rail line to St. Louis de Kent (formerly Palmerston).
The men were anxious to start this challenge.
Armed with crosscut saws and broad axes they started carving a mile
stone through the woods, rocks and small rivers.
Day after day, they battled the wind,
weather and the elements as they kept trying to get that extra mile
in. It was backbreaking labor; a rugged effort that brought in $1 day
and in many cases even less money.
No short days here, these days range
from 12 to 15 hour shifts. They never complained, they needed the money
to put food on the table for their loved ones. They believed, they knew
it could be done and they wanted to see the railway become a reality.
Steam and steam power were in the hearts and minds of the workers. Rails
end was reached in the summer of '73. Kent Junction sprang up around
the railhead.
The first run saw an engine, coal car,
and two flat cars with seats on them (complete with a four foot side
rails, to prevent passenger loss). Making that first run were honeymooners,
Mr. & Mrs. Jack McMin.
The McMins took many of their friends
along on the honeymoon. They were all enjoying this trip to the fullest;
there was continued laughing and joking as the train rolled toward Kent
Junction. Along the route were train stations, coal sheds and water
tanks. Upon arriving in Kent Junction, the frivolity and laughter ceased.
The passengers realized they were covered with black coal dust. The
trip has always been referred to as "Black Honeymoon".
Jack McMin later became known as "Richibucto's
first photographer". Turning the train around in both Kent Junction
and Richibucto brought an ingenious solution the Turn Table. In later
years, a "Y" replaced (the turn table) in Kent Junction.
At first this was operated by putting
the engines of the train on this turn table , and men using a hand crank
was replaced by two horses creating the "look the other way train effect".
At Richibucto the "turn table" was in a huge building next to the coal
shed. «picture»
On the Black Honeymoon's return trip,
a casket joined them in one of the flat cars. In the same year two second
hand passenger cars were purchased and a mail car with an additional
freight car helped round out the old steam wonder.
The old Kent Northern engines could be
quite difficult, especially in the winter months many old timers remember
how they had to push the old wonder to get her started. «picture»