A major east-west rail corridor between Greensboro in the west and Goldsboro in the east passed eight miles to the north.

[1] In order that the students at the University of North Carolina not be tempted from their studies, a state statute decreed that the end of the spur be located at least a mile from the school's campus.

The current town of Carrboro, then known as West End, started to grow as a result of the railroad.

[7] As passenger service ended by 1940, UNC's new power plant was built to take advantage of the rail line.

The primary traffic on the rail line currently comes from freight deliveries of coal to this power plant.