I can't believe that I actually forgot to blog about this! Chalk it up to my excitement at playing with my new toy and other things that have been going on. On a visit to Trains & Things in Ewing/Trenton, I was once again enchanted by the Standard Gauge Blue Comet set from the new Lionel Corporation that Tony had on the shelf. It's a modern reproduction of a set from the original Lionel that came out in the early 1930s and was a representation of Jersey Central's famous Blue Comet which ran from the Jersey Central terminal in Jersey City (now Liberty State Park) to Atlantic City. On this visit, it called out to me too loudly and wound up coming home with me! 
Unlike the original set from the 1930s which had three cars, this set has five cars — and additional coach as well as a newly-designed baggage car. As with the prototype, all of the cars are named for comets. The train is pulled by an absolutely exquisite two-tone blue 400E steam locomotive, fully equipped with all the modern conveniences such as PS2, sound, smoke, etc. Now, I had already bought a 400E, in gunmetal grey, to pull my Standard Gauge freight cars, but as the saying goes, you can never have too many 400E's. The cars are also absolutely exquisite and sport the same detailed interiors as the originals, down to the sinks and lavatories in the rest rooms! In the following photos (click to enlarge), you can see the locomotive, tender, the five cars, and the detailed interior.
The 400E Steam Locomotive
The Tender
Baggage Car "Olbers"
Coach Car "Tuttle"
Coach Car "Faye"
Coach Car "Westphal"
Observation Car "Tempel"
The detailed interior, with opening doors, seating, and rest rooms
Rest room detail, showing the sinks and lavatory
