TPBO

[FCIN]

... Union Pacific Hires a Short-Line to switch the yard for them.
You could do something similar with your layout, Have it be an Industrial Park Owned by a Bigger Railroad such as L&N, But have it be Switched by A Short-LIne.

Justin;
Lot of that sort of thing going on these days...

I've considered something along that line (more than once), short line or contract switching service working an industrial spur using second hand power. I know of a few contract operators on industrial spurs not too far from here. Since my ISL is freelance, might be the way to go!

Another possibility would be an industrial park that has its own small locomotive (GE 45 ton is what I'd use) and you can find operations like that here and there too. In fact, here's a link about a now abandoned operation like that using a GE 25 ton known as Atlas Terminal in New York: http://members.trainweb.com/bedt/indloco/at.html

Once I get going on this layout for real, nothing to stop me from operating it as a different theme from time to time. Heck, with DCC, I could have a 45 tonner on the spur and have one of the industries do their own switching in between times when the "Big Boy's" aren't around.

All sorts of concepts - that's another thing that makes model railroading such a fascinating hobby!