Are the DC layouts slowly all disappearing?

[Medina1128]

lone geep

I think DC will never die untill DCC becomes more affordable.

The Lone Geep 

Just the cost of the starter system alone is keeping my layout a DC block controlled one. Let alone the cost of installing decoders in all of my locomotives.

[Michael6792]

I dont think that DC is going to disappear any time soon, but it does pose another interesting question especially to modeler that has a large layout in Dc that they've been working on for years. If you had to start over from scratch for whatever reason, would you stick with DC or make the move to go with DCC at that point?

[BRAKIE]

No. Apparently DC is still firmly in the drivers seat as witnessed by the various  black boxes for DC sound control,duel mode decoders as well as the new MRC Tech 6..

Even Bachmann's DCC on board locomotives can be operated on DC.

Let's take a closer look at Bachmann's DCC strategy..

Simply put they are marketing basic DCC equipped locomotives at a affordable price and at street price they are a bargain for many modelers that wants DCC but,has budget restraints..

I have no doubt the other manufacturers are scratching their heads and wondering how to counter this move.

[blownout cylinder]

I think that DC will be around for a long while to come yet...this kind of thing has come up in some local clubs about changing over to DCC but most have turned it down because of the conversion costs..and at a time when some of these clubs are doing the hunker down thing.....megh...conversion is going to be a cost factor for sure...

As for home layouts...megh... I see there to be a bit of an inroad being made by DCC but...not so much...just yet...

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

Frank,

I'm currently rebuilding my layout so that it will be transportable when we decide where we want to retire.

The current space is a 24' x 40' heated and cooled finished room aboave my detached garage.

The layout specs are roughly as follows: 8 scale mile double track mainline on two decks, staging for about 25 trains, design train length 20 actual feet, detection, signals and CTC dispatching, seperate industrial belt line, seperate single track WM interchange line, etc, etc.

It will be DC with Aristo Craft Train Engineer wireless radio thorttles, a walk around cab selection system, redundent tower controls, provisions for 8-10 operators at once, and alternate display mode allowing 5-6 display "loops" to just run.

Mainline turnout contols provide one touch routing through even complex interlockings and are duplicated at local tower panels and on the CTC panel.

Typical power per mainline train is two steam locos or 3-4 diesels. Do that math, 25 trains x 3 locos x extras for power changes = 130 + locos. Locos I already have and don't want to add decoders to.

Cabs are assigned to throttles by redundent pushbuttons that allow full walk around operation and/or CTC panel operation. Many "track sections" (blocks) are automaticly connected based on turnout position (X sections) so the number of "track sections" (blocks) that must be "assigned" is greatly reduced  - based on Ed Ravenscroft's MZL control and the work of Paul Mallery.

It is all done with some inexpensive relays, pushbuttons, cat 5 cable, and the repetitve use of some simple circuits that have been used to control machines since the invention of the electric motor.

Important note - I have no interest in onboard sound.

I just installed a similar but simpler DC cab selection system on a friend's layout about a year and a half ago. He too uses the Aristo Train Engineer thorttles.

Rumors about the death of DC are greatly exaggerated.

Sheldon

[CAZEPHYR]

da_kraut

Hello,

I am talking about the layouts that are constructed more recently be it a 4 by 8 layout or larger.  Went to a LHS two weeks ago and admired some SD70ACE's from Athearn and the proprietor of the store said that all he orders now for display are engines with sound on board.  Special orders are the straight DC locomotives.  Went to a train show today and again looked at some of the same locomotives and again the sales person said that at their store they only get the sound version, they are ordering less and less DC locomotives.  At another table was a gentleman that builds layouts for people and he too tells his clients to go straight into DCC.

What is your experience, is this only a trend here in this area in southern Ontario?  I for one do not mind my DC layout.  I do not mind doing the extra wiring and throwing the extra switch, specially since I am a lone wolf modeller.  Also being a electrician probably helps.  If I wanted to go into DCC I am certain that the decoder installation would be pretty straight forward.

Do you see DC loco's except for the cheapest most basic train sets disappearing from the shelves at the LHS?  

Frank

The BNSF layout at the Chicago Museum is a DC layout and is not changing.  In general, you are probably correct about DCC being used now for many home and club layouts and DC is probably not so popular as it once was before DCC. 

CZ

[galaxy]

Where I shop/look its about equal at one shop and still more DC at the other. What I have noticed, though is that the plain DC locos are starting to cost the same or more than the DCC versions, and that DC power packs are getting up there in price as well.

I'm not sure DC will disappear just yet, but I think it is being forced out. Time comes with change.

If not, we'd all still be driving Model T's with standard tranny and no a/c, and not travelling more than 30 MPH.

We, too, will all be assimilated, to quote the borg.

[lone geep]

I think DC will never die untill DCC becomes more affordable.

The Lone Geep 

[Hamltnblue]

Most stuff I see at the hobby shop is predominantly DC, especially the train sets.  Even higher brand loco's are mostly DC with a DCC plug.

I find it interesting that there are several DC power packs that cost as much or more than a DCC starter set.

[CNJ831]

Is the DCC market slowly growing? Yes, I'd definitely say that it is. DC disappearing, however, is quite another question.

I would speculate that DC is still dominant in the hobby and will likely remain viable as an operating system for perhaps the next 15-20 years. It is simply a matter of too many older hobbyists having too many DC locomotives they are unwilling to convert for there to be any truly rapid and dramatic change in the situation. I, like quite a number of other long time hobbyists I know, will likely never bother to make the change-over, simply because what we currently have operating our layouts works just fine for us. DC sales still have many profitable years ahead of them.

CNJ831

[Darth Santa Fe]

My hobby shop still carries a lot of DC stuff. Individual locomotives with sound outnumber the DC ones, but the digital stuff isn't taking over. What the hobby shops carry depends on the customers. You may have more digital railroaders in your area.

[da_kraut]

Hello,

I am talking about the layouts that are constructed more recently be it a 4 by 8 layout or larger.  Went to a LHS two weeks ago and admired some SD70ACE's from Athearn and the proprietor of the store said that all he orders now for display are engines with sound on board.  Special orders are the straight DC locomotives.  Went to a train show today and again looked at some of the same locomotives and again the sales person said that at their store they only get the sound version, they are ordering less and less DC locomotives.  At another table was a gentleman that builds layouts for people and he too tells his clients to go straight into DCC.

What is your experience, is this only a trend here in this area in southern Ontario?  I for one do not mind my DC layout.  I do not mind doing the extra wiring and throwing the extra switch, specially since I am a lone wolf modeller.  Also being a electrician probably helps.  If I wanted to go into DCC I am certain that the decoder installation would be pretty straight forward.

Do you see DC loco's except for the cheapest most basic train sets disappearing from the shelves at the LHS?  

Frank