Watco Companies, L.L.C. (Watco) is a Pittsburg, Kansas-based transportation company formed in 1983 by Charles R. (Dick) Webb. Watco is composed of four divisions: transportation, mechanical, terminal and port services, and compliance. Watco is the owner of Watco Transportation Services, L.L.C. (WTS), which operates 32 shortline railroads in the U.S. and Australia. It is one of the largest shortline railroad companies in the United States. As of May 2011 they operated on of leased and owned track. Also under transportation is the contract switching the company provides service for 27 customers. This is the service that Watco originally offered before branching out into other areas.