 In 1840 Worthen was with George Washington Whistler on the Albany and West Stockbridge Railroad, commencing with the preliminary surveys of the road and remaining until its completion, 7 miles of the construction work having been under his immediate charge.Returning to Lowell he was again engaged with Francis in hydraulic work and the construction of the lower end of the Northern Canal.He then designed and built a dam and the mills on the Suncook River at Suncook, New Hampshire.