It's not just for heritage operations, but freight service, and what might be an interesting ownership model, too.

https://www.railwayage.com/freight/shor ... iaAvB9gCPQ

I'm a little confused by the article, isn't the line wholly owned by NS ? So why would the state be seeking an operator unless they were going to buy it. I'd think NS would just bid it to one of the usual suspects like WATCO, RJC, GW etc unless they've tried to do that and do groups don't want it.

"The railroad has not been legally abandoned, or filed for abandonment, by NS. A transfer of common-carrier responsibility to the new operator through a Surface Transportation Board (STB) filing, rather than an abandonment process, is desired."