Muddy, you were correct. I received the remote today and the train yesterday, and it works like a champ. So if anyone else has this same question, the remote is dated 2005 and the train is 2008, why, I have no idea. I presume due to having the molds or blanks already made so they were reused? At any rate, I have victor left together this style r/c and then will have them all.