OK I finally put a few straight pieces of track together and hooked up engine, tender and caboose.
The bad the leds are dependent on track voltage, so slow speed = low light output. the good they do get nice and bright plus the caboose light does not bleed through. Plus the engiine sounds etc are still powered through the nine volt so the sams site  details are wrong on that point.
Any toher questions feel free to ask.

 Hook and loop

 Gondola says on ends NP&S 50807. No numbers on stock car or caboose. If I understand what you mean the lettering is the  NORTH POLE & SOUTHERN.
Still not sure if the sound etc is run by the track or batteries. I have no track laid anywhere yet to try train out on yet.The instruction Manuel is not clear on it either. But the tender has contact shoes on the wheels and also the battery compartment on tender has the normal  hook ups for battery inside. Seems to me if they bypassed the battery compartment  for track feed .Why spend the extra parts/money to put the electrical contacts etc in the compartment.
   Over all i like the set the only problem I can maybe see, is if the leds are bright that maybe you might have"bleed through "back into the caboose and may not look right. Figure that could be fixed by a quick paint job on the inside of caboose to darken  it.

 Just got home from sams. I can safely say the side rods are plastic. But the leds are on both sides of the caboose. But the display has it on only one side. Cost cutting measure on the display I am sure.Caboose is track powered have not checked the set out fully yet to see if the sounds etc are also track powered will post that later.

 Any one buy a set yet? I was wondering as I am planning on making the trip tuesday to buy one.(found a way to get a one day pass .)  . And was  interested in a brief review if some one had .
Hard to tell but are the leds on the caboose only on one side?
They only recieved 7 they said so hope there is one left .

 Does any one know if these will appear in the stores this year or just be online?
I HATE the fact you have to pay to spend money there though. As I live far enough away I would never use the membership except for this one item.

 Maybe Bach man can answer if it is the Annie as I would like to know this as well.

 Does any one know if the leds  run off the track or battery power? and of so what kind and how many thanks?  KIM

 Does any one know of a source for hay bails in g scale? fairly cheap? or how to make them  would be better and more fun(I think )
  Need it for my new bachmann Big top  train yet another great set Bachmann! It is "new old stock". Took it out lubed it up and away she went! Very nice set.

Heck yes. I buy the same numbered  ones even now

 Can you swap out the engine shell and tender shells easy( from a older big hauler  radio control one emmet kelly circus version) onto a newer electric one? Thus making a neat newer  one?

Thanks Jerry that looks very interesting I plan on getting a color or two to try it out

Well he said to ship it back and he would refund the purchase plus return shipping so keeping fingers crossed he will follow through when he gets it.I will ship it back with signature required though.

Yes it does it was ripped right out of the body the screws and mounting points are still attaqched just torn loose. but does not explain how the tender and other parts went ka blooey lol

 Doubt if they would pay seeing as there was no damage to the packaging what so ever