@TexasSP posted:Of course there's a huge difference in the dollars allowed in aerospace for this contingency and the need to plan and cover parts obsolescence which really isn't applicable at this level. The real question is while yes it can be done what's the cost to design and make a remote with current parts which will work with the original TIU's and WiFi? Then what is the real market here for it, could you even begin to recoup the costs?
Unfortunately this is felt harder in the 3 Rail O world do to the smaller and fragmented command markets that exist. You can see this same problem though in the DCC market as well.
You assume facts not in evidence. Truthfully, the cost to do last time buys of parts was a minor part of the costs of doing business. The planning ahead was the key component in the equation. 
There isn't unlimited money in any business, including the aerospace business. Most of the parts we had to stock cost peanuts, it was just that we had to carry the inventory of obsolete parts for the projected lifetime of the product.
