Lionel Wartime (Paper) Train question

The "other magazine" had an article on building it some years ago.

Way, WAY back I struck up a conversation about this paper train with a fellow in California who has become my pen (email) pal. He said that it was the only train his family could get during World War II. Assembling it was the most frustrating task he had ever faced - maybe it still retains that honor(?). He got the locomotive, tender, cars and track together. But the train wouldn't stay on the track. The track would come apart, too.

Since you are assembling a Greenberg reprint, you could increase odds in your favor by gluing or taping the track together. Keeping it together while the train rolls along  could be a challenge. Be ready for Plan B and Plan C and Plan D, etc.

I vaguely recall that this paper train was made by a "cereal king" who made much simpler products for "prizes" inside cereal boxes. Some were printed on the back of cereal boxes.

Last year the TCA Quarterly published an article that tied Lionel's (in)famous Girl's Train with other Girl's / Pastel products in the mid-1950's. Apparently, Lionel wanted to tap an existing market for Girl's / Pastel products. That was the first time I had seen the Girl's Train in its context. I had considered it an isolated, aberrant (maybe desperate) product, but it did have counteparts in that market.

Hi, I usually dont respond to older threads but after searching the entire internet I could only find a few references to the Lionel Wartime paper train.  

I'm looking for any info or photos available on this set beyond what is found on google.

I have also found a  Greenberg reproduction of the original set.

I was wondering how rare the reproduction set is.

I will try to make copies and keep the original Greenberg repro set if it is valuable or rare.

Has anyone else had any experience they could share about building up the reproduction,  Any certain areas need to be fixed or corrected?

I have built some cardstock models in the past and I plan on cutting out the round wheels with a section of brass or copper pipe with a sharpened edge, I have done this before and it works well. Use a block of wood & a hammer to diecut the parts

I might even consider finding an old prewar Lionel wind up clockwork motor for it Might try some brass grommets for bushings on the paper & wood car axles and see if I can make it run.  I also plan on using glue and maybe using balsa wood blocks inside for a sturdy construction.  I'd like to have something an a model railroader could have built or modified during the war using this kit plus some scavenged materials from the wartime era.

-Jason