As long as there is a market for replacement parts, someone will be producing them. How many post war replacement parts are made by Lionel today? Not many, most are made by third parties. Same with electronics today. If your TMCC engine breaks, Electric RR can get running again. MTH has DCS replacements as well.
With the cost of new engines reaching into the stratosphere, you can repair your existing engine for a fraction of the cost of replacing it. If you can replace existing electronics with a diode bridge as some have suggested, you can replace it with proper electronics. It may look more complicated but its really only a matter of a few more wires. The manuals are very well done just take it a step at a time Try one a see for yourself.
Pete
