DC has been the foundation of this hobby since its inception....it isn't going away, and that's okay. I do believe that DCC will also be around for a long time to come, and that's okay too.
Initially DCC was not going to be an option for me but as time went by and the decoders got easier to install and their capabilities broadened, it just made sense to me to convert to DCC. Now, that being said, I admit that I currently don't have an operating layout. All my N-scale locos are either DCC-capable or decoder equipped.
In my opinion layout size has no bearing on whether you use DCC or DC. My old DC N-scale layout was 3'x7'. It had a 4-track yard, 2-track engine terminal and a mainline with several sidings with industries. I prefer DCC to DC for the flexibility. When I was operating my DC N-scale layout, especially in the yard and engine terminal, I found it distracting to constantly be throwing block toggles while operating.
Of course there is the cost of financing, especially if you have a large fleet of locos. There are plenty of affordable starter sets and, at least in N-scale, affordable decoder equipped locos.
There will always be alternate methods of powering our layouts but I think DC and DCC will be the primary forms of power for years to come.
Joe P, KC2PJL
Charter Member of the Red Knights International Motorcycle Club, NJ Chapter 15
Amateur radio....the only REAL radio left in the world.
Emergency Services Dispatcher
