The Lionel web site delivery schedule still indicates July 2012. No advance samples have been displayed at York to date, so it will be interesting to see if a display sample shows up this April. I have been informed that all rolling stock that are operating cars in the original Gilbert set are intended to be functional in a similar fashion for the reissue (with the exception that the rocket flat and the unloading boxcar will not be wired together, but are to function separately).
Bob Bubeck