Lionel Smoky Mountain Line set, DC powered...Really?

[vsmith]

I just picked up this set on Fleabay, got it only to discover that its DC powered, wah??? this despite coming with a loop of three rail track? OK now I have to admit I am rather confused why would they have done this when everything else in the 3 rail universe is AC? 

Now granted I bought this set specifically so I could run it on a stand alone very small loop of track I built for Xmas, I'm currently only running clockwork trains on it, but this means I cannot run it on an already wired AC layout with my Marx stuff.

I'm very curious to learn a little history on this set. Xmas set-up BTW:

[sir james I]

Yes Michigan Lionel did make some DC only sets. The seller should have noted that in his ad.

[Firelock76]

It was cheaper to build it with a DC motor than an AC motor.  Mind you, this was back before there were circuit boards available to do a AC to DC conversion.  All new O gauge locomotives have DC motors in them now but the boards I mention allow use with a traditional set-up.

All's not lost.  If you don't have a DC transformer for that particular set any HO or N gauge transformer should do.

[lionelsoni]

There is no necessary connection between the number of rails and whether the train is powered by AC or DC.  If you don't mind not being able to back up, you can install a small bridge rectifier to run it on AC.

[vsmith]

Thanks, yeah the set came complete with powerpack, thats what through me seeing that HO powerpack in the box. I thought it was a misplace, but then I read the cover and the instructions, and thought funny that! I'll just have to do it as a stand-alone DC layout. Given how low the value of these sets is I won't have any reservations modifying and weathering them for the planned micro-layout.