Used up my train budget for a while but found a 50th anniversary 6-31705 set with 5 passenger cars plus the add-on dinner. Last catalog for this was 2002. 50th anniversary of the 1950 773 passenger set that is.
Original 1950s set was a 773, 2426 tender with Madison, Manhatten and Irvington Passenger cars. The Saeger observation and Baggage car to match the set didn't arrive until the modern era.
The anniversary set came with TMCC, the 5 passenger cars listed above and the addon dinner car with TMCC controlled sounds. O54 track min, not O31 as listed on the lionel site. A few sample pictures plus some comparing the original vs the new. Original cars were 14" with window silhouettes. Anniversary set are 18" with detailed interiors.
Had to reseat 2 passengers, fix a couple of loose light connections and all working now. Just waiting on the correct traction tires to arrive.
