DC/DCC

[nachoman]

I don't see how there could be a demise of DC, only a demise of people using it. It is simple enough, and the components will always be available. If it ever becomes that all locos are sold with decoders, all one would need to do is remove the decoder, as the loco still has all the parts needed for DC. Now, there could be a demise of DCC, if someone comes out with a new standard that is no longer compatible with DCC, and DCC decoders are no longer manufactured. That probably will happen someday, as what happens to most digital technologies after a few years. I suppose if the hobby evolved into a system where locomotives carried their own power supply and were radio controlled, then new locomotives may no longer convert easily to DC, especially if they no longer had 12v electric motors, had plastic wheels, or solid (non-insulated) axles. I suspect there will always be a few running standard DC, just as there are still a few of us driving around with stick-shift or manual steering cars, or use landline phones