The building of the Albion Mines Railway began in 1836 and the road was opened for traffic in 1839. The line, in length, was so nearly straight that the least radius of its curves was 1″ — . The estimated quantity of excavations was 400,000 cubic yards. At the water terminus there was a wharf long by wide, commanding a fall of above high water level at the shoots. The masonry, bridges, culverts, etc., were of cut freestone, from a nearby quarry. The total cost of construction was $160,000.