build northward and end east of the French River settlement. Debate of the four plans continued until it was agreed that the proposal would following a route from Cornwall to Embrun to Richmond to Perth to Lake St. Peter to French River to Sault Ste. Marie, with branches from Pickerel Lake to Parry Sound, Manotick to Ottawa, and Cornwall through Malone to Lyon Mountain by means of a bridge over the St. Lawrence River. Bergin & Kerr's company received its charter on May 17, 1882, as the Ontario Pacific Railway. The approved route was from Cornwall to Ottawa, through Arnprior and Eganville to Lake Nipissing to a point at or near French River, with a branch from Cornwall to Smiths Falls or Perth. Also included was the right to build a bridge over the St. Lawrence River at Cornwall to connect to any American railroad. On May 25, 1883, the planned route was extended to Sault Ste. Marie and the branch to Smiths Falls or Perth was to leave the main line at Newington, and go through Carleton Place to end at Almonte. A third branch was to leave the main line between Eganville and Renfrew and end at Pembroke. Although Bergin never stopped the promotion of his railway, Kerr had to bow-out to focus on his other businesses. Through the years, the Ontario Pacific Railway lay dormant, although meetings were held often, but work never got underway. It would not be until a fateful train trip in 1896 between Ottawa and Coteau Station that Bergin would meet Charles Hibbard, owner of the Northern New York Railroad, that progress would finally be made. A deal was struck between the two businessmen, and their companies were to work together to form one line from Ottawa to New York City. Bergin did not see his dream come true, as he died that October. His brother, John, took the reins and the Ontario Pacific Railway changed its name on May 21, 1897, to the Ottawa & New York Railway. Northern New York Railroad 1895-1897 After the Northern Adirondack Railroad was purchased—bought on May 25, 1895—the syndicate (led by Charles Hibbard) reorganized it as the Northern New York Railroad two days later. Although uncertain, it appears that Hibbard managed to acquire trackage rights east of Moira on the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Railroad to Malone. Hibbard was not unlike John Hurd. He, too, envisioned