| History: | The Caro Northern Railway operated as the Whiteman-Decker and later the Saner-Whiteman Lumber Company tap-line. Reed states that it began as a logging tram. Nacogdoches County records note that the company had two miles of tram road near Caro in 1904. Two years later, operations had expanded to three engines, thirty-eight log car, six miles of tram tracks, and seventy mules.
Incorporated on September 14, 1906, as the Caro Northern Railway Company, it extended sixteen miles from Caro, with its connection to the Texas & New Orleans, to Mt. Enterprise in Rusk County. The company mill at Wydeck was about a half mile from the shortline's junction with the Texas & New Orleans. A number of other lumber mills and cotton gins were served by the line.
Railway incorporators were C. H. Morris and M. W. Jones of Winnsboro, Mrs. M. R. Schluter of Dallas, and others. The Railroad Commission of Texas quickly recognized it as a common carrier. Saner- Whiteman Lumber Company incorporators were W.G. Ragley, John C. Saner, W.T. Whiteman, M.W. Jones, and R.E.L. Saner. These men owned almost the entire stock of Caro Northern. In 1906, eighteen miles of tram road had been built over which rolled three locomotives, forty cars, and one steam loader.
In 1910, the I. C. C. found that rolling stock included two locomotives, one passenger car, and eight box cars. Saner-Whitman independently owned other locomotives and logging cars for its logging and mill operations. One mixed train daily ran to and from Caro, handling express, mail, and passengers. The lumber company served other interests than its own. For instance, in the above year, lumber cars hauled consisted of 897 for Saner-Whitman and 451 for others; ninety-eight cars of other than lumber for the lumber company and 196 for other interests. The annual report in 1910 revealed $21,085.31 in freight revenue; $1,538.18 for passenger revenue; $499.44 for mail revenue; $458.28 for express revenue; and $1,481.50 from Saner-Whitman for trackage rights. Operating expenses totaled $24,443.55, leaving $619.16 in net operating revenue. Hire of equipment and taxes debited the net operating revenue to a net corporate loss of $2,702.16. Previous accumulated revenue from earlier years, however, left a $4,899.9 surplus on June 30, 1910.
In later years, the railroad's operations were, at times, sporadic, causing the Railroad Commission to withdraw its common carrier status. The railroad even on occasion used motor cars equipped to run on the rails. Another unusual business practice permitted by the Railroad Commission was that of “spotting.” Some lumber mills on the track did not have sidings. They were permitted to “spot” railroad cars on the track. The cars needed to be loaded and ready for pickup on the train's schedule. If the cars were not ready, they would have to be “respotted,” that is, moved by the Caro Northern, which was permitted to charge $5.00 for each car so re-spotted.
The road was first abandoned in 1923, reopened in 1926, then finally dropped in 1928, according to Zlatkovich. Reed states that it was 1934 before operations finally ceased.
Keeling reported that the line used four geared and one rod locomotive.
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