The Chignecto Marine Railway project was embarked upon with the idea of cutting down travel time for ships.

Instead of sailing around Nova Scotia, the ships would dock at Fort Lawrence. Here they would be lifted by a hydraulic lift and put on railway tracks to be transported over land to Northumberland Strait where they would resume their journey towards St. Lawrence Seaway.

The idea was proposed by engineer, Henry Ketchum in 1870s.  Due to financial difficulties the Chignecto Marine Railway collapsed in 1890 and the project was abandoned [ Link ]

The CBC News article, 'Engineering Masterpiece' to shuttle ships between NB and NS lost to time gives more details about this project. Today, after 125 years one can find remains of this abandoned project in Tidnish Bridge, Nova Scotia.