Watco Keeps Grip on New Tennessee Railroad Without Hassle

2026-06467 — Stillwater Central Railroad, L.L.C.-Lease and Operation Exemption-Hollis & Eastern Railroad, L.L.C.

Stillwater Central Railroad is renewing its lease to run trains on a 14-mile track between Duke and Altus, Oklahoma, with updated terms from Hollis & Eastern Railroad. They expect to make over $5 million a year but are asking to skip a usual 60-day employee notice. The final approval and start date will be decided soon, with a deadline for challenges on April 10, 2026.

2026-06455 — Thomas L. Hey and James A. Hey-Acquisition of Control-Minnesota Motor Bus, Inc.

Back in 2010, Thomas and James Hey took control of Minnesota Motor Bus without getting official permission. Now, in 2026, they’re fixing that by asking for approval after the fact. If no one objects by May 18, this approval will become final, letting them keep running things smoothly without any money or timing troubles.

2026-06555 — Railroad Cost Recovery Procedures-Productivity Adjustment

The Surface Transportation Board says railroads got 1.5% more productive each year from 2020 to 2024. This new number helps decide how much railroads can raise their rates to cover costs. Railroads, shippers, and anyone watching prices should note that this change kicks in April 18, 2026, unless someone spots a mistake and files a comment by April 15.

2026-06331 — TransloadX Railroad Company, Inc.-Acquisition and Operation Exemption-CSX Transportation, Inc.

TransloadX Railroad Company is set to lease and run two railroad lines from CSX Transportation in Maine, covering about 37 miles. Starting April 16, 2026, TransloadX will take over operations and serve local customers, aiming to keep things smooth without big revenue changes. This switch means a fresh, smaller railroad operator stepping in to keep the trains rolling and business growing!

2026-05941 — Buckingham Branch Railroad Company-Discontinuance Exemption-in the City of Virginia Beach and the City of Norfolk, Va.

Buckingham Branch Railroad wants to stop running trains on a 4.2-mile track between Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Virginia, because the U.S. Navy is buying nearby land for security reasons. This change mainly affects one local shipper, Gordon Paper, and will happen after the Navy’s purchase is finalized. The railroad says keeping the line open won’t make sense financially or operationally anymore.

2026-05940 — Canonie Atlantic Co.-Abandonment Exemption-in the City of Virginia Beach and the City of Norfolk, Va.; Buckingham Branch Railroad Company-Discontinuance Exemption-in the City of Virginia Beach and the City of Norfolk, Va.

Canonie Atlantic Co. and Buckingham Branch Railroad want to stop using about 2.3 miles of rail track in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Virginia. Canonie Atlantic has owned the track since 1985 but never ran trains on it, while Buckingham Branch has operated it since 2018. This change means the rail line will be abandoned and service discontinued soon, affecting local rail operations and possibly shifting some freight to trucks.

Previous: 2026-00124 — Smoky Ridge Railroad, L.L.C.-Acquisition and Operation Exemption-EnergySolutions, LLC

Smoky Ridge Railroad, L.L.C. is set to take over and run about 7 miles of railroad track in Tennessee from EnergySolutions, LLC, starting as soon as January 22, 2026. This means Smoky Ridge will handle all freight services on this line, while EnergySolutions steps away. The change won’t cost Smoky Ridge more than $5 million in revenue and keeps them a smaller, local railroad company.

Next: 2026-00126 — Elevation Series Trust and Truemark Investments LLC

Elevation Series Trust and Truemark Investments LLC want permission to change their subadvisory agreements without asking shareholders every time. They’re also asking to skip some usual fee disclosures about these subadvisers. If approved, this will speed up their management changes and keep some fee details private, with a chance to speak up by January 30, 2026.