Right now my budget doesn't forsee DCC conversion. Also, my knowledge about DCC doesn't go much beyond knowing that you control the locomotives individually rather than controling the track. Before put together an "analog" layout, do I need a special type of track for DCC later? I don't think I do but, if I do, I'd rather get it now for the analog layout than to have to redo the layout when I make the conversion.
To answer your question, yes and no. No you don't, but there are some turnouts that cause problems with DCC. Most of the turnouts now are "DCC friendly", but I bought a "new" Sninohara 3 way turnout that cause a short, cause it's not DCC friendly. According to the walthers catalog, the new shinohara turnouts are supposed to be DCC friendly.
Basically in the interest of keeping it simple, for the budget-minded of us (including me) anything that Atlas makes currently is DCC friendly. The only issue is with Wyes and Reverse Loops, just as in DC you have to provide for polarity reversal. The neat this is that every DCC system manufacturer has provided simple solutions.
