I'm wondering if it's more a

I'm wondering if it's more a matter of that specific solution isn't as compelling?

DCC is a pretty complicated system...This adds additional complexity on top of it. Maybe systems lik Railpro which are basically the same whether the power s from the track or from a battery are making inroads here? 

I remember back in 2010 I played around with a Battery powered Kato GP35 that used the old Aristocraft sytem. Aside from lacking some of the complex light and sound features, this was in and of itself a compelling unit. So I have a hard time believing dead rail is dead.

I don't know, but I'll tell

I don't know, but I'll tell you this - I'm just not interested in battery powered locos when I have reliable AC powered equipment compared to the battery capacity / cost / life at the current time.  To me a battery is just another failure point.

RailPro

If the battery problem could be solved, to have small, reliable batteries that are easily and quickly recharged, I think the system most suited to dead rail is Rail Pro. All the radio stuff is already there, it just needs juice. However, I think we are a way off from solving the battery issues.

Niche product

I think it is and will remain a niche product - except for outdoor large scale where it is more feasible and solves a real problem.  I'm sure there are folks who enjoy the tinkering side of the hobby and will keep this around.  But for most, I don't think that it will catch on at it's present stage of development.

Paul

Going Deadrail with RailPro

KPack did it in spectacular fashion...

discussion here: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/29171

There are still a number of

There are still a number of competitors in the dead-rail market: S-cab, RailPro, BlueRail, Deltang to name a few.

Perhaps it were to many for a small market.

S-cab has its BPS Battery Power Supply allowing to load batteries from powered track.
Regards, Volker

The need?

is the key to me. If one is building a garden layout it's probably easier to go with batteries than try to install and maintain reliable track power.  If the layout room is clean and one knows how to wire up a layout it's probably easier to do that once than it is to add and maintain batteries in all the engines.  A smaller battery to get one over turnouts and other complicated to wire areas might be the best compromise for indoor layouts, hopefully some universal standards and RTR engines will show up making this easy? .....DaveB

Like Rick

I have no interest in dead rail given I have no real issue with what I currently use.  I did R/C cars for a few years and the batteries were the most draining part of the hobby.  (Sorry, I couldn't resist)

Dead rail

I have operated on a home layout using dead rail (Deltang equipment in scratchbuilt G15 equipment, HO gauge, 1:24th scale).  It operated with no problems and was very enjoyable.

If the batteries were small, easy to do and held enough charge to do a 3 hr session (or could recharge on the fly) I would definitely consider converting.  The major weak spot in early rail is electrical pick up so eliminating that as a critical path could be a step forward.

Give it a few more years and

Give it a few more years and we will have reliable and affordable wireless charging. That would mean that you could have charging stations in the roundhouse and all you would have to do is park your locomotive and it fills up automatically.

Micheal, I think we will be

Micheal, I think we will be amazed in few more years with battery technology including wireless charging for miniatures. I find time flies as I get older ; )

Got Batteries?

Batteries are smaller and smaller and less volitle. I don’t have powered frogs, programming tracks, boosters, or wiring of blocks or districts - zero wiring except in the loco.

My engines are an experiment in the works using Tamm Valley receivers, NCE dead rail receivers, BlueRail boards, and an MRC Genie. One Shay has a tsunami below the cab (and the “on” light looks like a fire in the box), Tamm Valley receiver under the cab roof, speaker and batteries in the water bunker. 

A 2-6-0 has a battery powered video camera in the cab. A motor car uses the BlueRail board and battery in the truck bed.  

My Porter has it’s own YouTube video!

If RailPro had a simple interface I’d consider that system but I seldom consist and don’t need a GUI .  

I'm impressed Neil. I can

I'm impressed Neil.

I can certainly envision all my HO scale brass steam locos having a battery and device require to run them in the tender. What the future holds.

Dead Rail has it's proponents and opponents.....

I am a large scale modeler (1:20.3), and yes I have lots of room for on board electronics and batteries. Smaller scales have far greater challenges in space. I have been very impressed with the equipment that is available for On30 and HO in R/C (not DCD) however it is achieved.

Some folks here have commented that they see no reason to go dead rail when they have a perfectly good, existing track powered system. And they are correct...for their circumstances. However....consider how much time and dollars were spent procuring, installing, testing, debugging, that track powered system. If you were starting over, how much easier would it be to just 'lay track' and never consider if that crossover will cause a short circuit.

I have seen folks complain about the cost of onboard systems. Consider the costs involved in the wire, control panels, switches, lights, etc to control a track powered system. I would think it may well be close to a wash cost wise. Also consider that onboard systems don't care what the track materials are, or if it is a bit dirty. Sometimes the dirt helps with traction. I have some HO track  and such from years past, some brass, some steel, some nickel silver. So long as the track is in gauge, and properly connected, it will work. In large scale aluminum rail is a great alternative due to cost.

For folks that do operations, battery R/C is a great alternative as all motive power operates independently of each other. Yes, DCC will do the same thing, but still requires all the wire and stuff. Of course the other side of the coin, operators must monitor their trains as if they were in the cab. And the last point I wish to bring out is that a batery R/C locomotive will function on ANY layout regardless of power scheme - Analog DC or DCC.

I am not necessarily advocating battery R/C in smaller scales, but I am trying to put forth a different perspective not otherwise mentioned. In the big picture, so long as we are enjoying our hobby, the rest is irrelevant.

Just my thoughts....Bob C.

No Rail

I went beyond the "Dead Rail" concept and just went with "No-Rail"

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/norail-layout-12206192

YouTube

Here are the links to my videos:

And with dead rail, that

And with dead rail, that siding that gets serviced once a month, or the one train a week branch can have nice rusty rails. Not shiny rails that look like 20 trains a day use them. 

Dead rail will be the future ...

As the technology becomes incorporated by the manufacturers, Dead Rail will become the "norm".  It will really make building, maintaining and modifying layouts easier as you will be able to just lay down the track and not worry about the wiring.  Troubleshooting will be easier as the track will no longer be a factor.

One will have to be more careful about tracks leading to removable sections (swing doors or lift-outs) as "removing power" to the rail will no longer be a sure fire safety feature. 

Hope not!

I am working on converting engine number 2 (B39-8) to dead rail in O scale. It is an experiment and I rather enjoy seeing the SD35 run under it's own power and seeing the dangling unconnected power leads.

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/2-rail-o-scale-sd35-project-newer-models-better-performance-12206370

Would I go dead rail on my HO layout? 

Not with the DCC investment I have, however, I do have a trio of GP35s that need an upgrade. The future for the HO GP35s will be sound, wireless (have the transmitter for the O scale) and battery with continuous charging from the rails. Why? For the fun of it.

Dead rail needs wireless transmission of commands and onboard power. The RC world has these covered and if you like live steam, then the battery only needs to cover the power requirement of the receiver and onboard controls. 

For myself, dead rail will never die, the components will always be available.

Will there ever be a demand for battery powered equipment when RTR DC and DCC equipment is available?

What about a future where DCC isn't needed and the equipment is wireless and gets power from the rails? Maybe a smaller battery for the sections of track that do not have reliable power transmission. Imagine... no need for DC or DCC blocks, easy solutions for wyes and reversing loops, no need for interconnected DCC equipment. Would this scenario be more likely?

Eugene  

(Batteries not included)

@Neil - Deadrail

Great videos! Especially the second one. LOL

You have given me a great idea about what to do with some of my HO stuff now that I'm moving over to N. I have an electrical engineer cousin who's deeply involved in battery miniaturization (he used to be a model railroader as well) so I'll put him on the project of finding some batteries that will fit into my diesel and steam units.

That way I can take some of the ones that I spent time on with detailing etc... over to other layouts and run them regardless of the control system.

Keep up the good work!

Dave (Skiloff) quote: I did

Dave (Skiloff) quote: I did R/C cars for a few years and the batteries were the most draining part of the hobby.

You can't compare power needs of a dead rail locomotive with can or coreless motors with power needs of R/C cars or R/C electric airplanes. It is recommended to use industry standard and not hobbe standard batteries.
Regards, Volker

technology

As the  technology advances I believe that dead rail systems will become a real, and attractive alternative to DCC. Will it replace DCC? Unlikely in my opinion, but that does not mean it will not be commercially profitable for the companies that choose to market dead rail systems. Just consider DC vs DCC.....DCC certainly is popular, especially when you read about layouts in the modeling press...they are almost always DCC. Does that mean DC is dead? Not by a long shot. There are thousands of Standard DC layouts across the country. So the way I see it, even if dead rail and batteries becomes the 'new standard' I don't believe it will ever take over DCC or standard DC completely.

Loving Life in Northern Colorado

Dale

Clarification

I'm not comparing the needs of R/C to locomotives, I'm simply saying I found maintaining and charging batteries was a hassle to me.  I'm in no way suggesting that because I like my current set up it is for everyone, all I'm saying is I don't have any real issues that would convince me I need to go dead rail.  I know the battery technology is improving all the time and dead rail will be more and more appealing to some, and that's fine.  At this stage, I have no real interest in it.  If you do, fill your boots.

....

Why buy one battery for $29.99 that will power one locomotive for two years when you can buy one power source for $49.99 that powers everything on the layout and lasts for a lifetime?

It's a no brainer.