It had a major effect on the Grand Trunk Eastern line between Montreal and Portland, ME. This line was a big factor in moving Canadian grain, particularly during the winter, for shipment to Europe. Portland had the advantage of being an ice free port within 200 miles of Montreal. Now Portland handles few exports with its port almost exclusively utilized for incoming petroleum products for shipment by pipeline to Montreal. The old Grand Trunk is stll in operation as the St. Lawrence and Atlantic RR as a subsidiary of Genessee and Wyoming but It now longer terminates in Lewiston, ME.