When Lionel had it operating at York this past April they had pulling 8 cars at a very slow speed. They also explained how it could be used on the parent's layout, by using it with a Legacy system. That as long as you were using a system that supplying 18 volts to the track then you could use the Thomas with the supplied remote. They also explained that Lionel will bringing out future offerings and that each engine would use it's own remote, that each engine would use a different signal. I believe this is the same kind of remote that is used in the 'G' gauge Polar Express engine.
The amazing part here is a set using a remote control that is cheaper in price by $70 then it's conventional set.
