Hello. We (http://www.cltc.ca - Calgary LEGO Train Club (Canada)) have tried a number of methods to make this work with a DCC layout. Our lesson's learned would recommend that you need to have spring loaded contact from the side of the track using Silver Nickel metal. Other metals corrode / tarnish and reduce the ability to pickup power. On one custom train, I use eight metal wheels (spring loaded bushings pickup the power off the back of the wheel - see Alain le Sage) and they work okay... but only because there are four points of contact on each side of the track at any given point in time. Granted DCC is more finicky than straight 9VDC.
I think that if you can come up with a wheel set design, you will do well. Maybe Kickstarter? One can use it for anything from power to PF motors to lighting a caboose up at the end of a train to interior coach lighting.
Wish you the best. Rudy
