About 25 years ago, while playing with my kids by old riprap fill on the Illinois River shore, I found a couple of pins from the link and pin days.  One of them has "ICRR" indented in it.  Anyone know the time frame when these were discontinued in favor of knuckle couplers?  Were there, for a while, trains of links/knuckles mixed?

I acquired a few of the Athearn "blue box" loco kits years ago.  For some reason, the thought of painting the handrails never crossed my mind as I assembled them, and now they are rusty.  I figured on carefully using a jeweler's screwdriver to remove them, and sandpaper to remove the rust.  For paint, would you use a brush, or spray?

Didn't GG1's and Pennsy passenger cars have manual brake systems?  Wouldn't this have prevented the runaway into the Washington DC Union Station (early 50's)?

Back in the '30's Hiram Walker leased some reefers, which had company lettering.  Although icing wasn't necessary, I was told reefers were acquired because they got a good deal on them.  I was wondering if anyone knows what color the cars and lettering were.  About 25 years ago TMI (Train Miniature of Illinois) released a gray steel reefer that had red lettering, but I don't think this scheme was correct for what actually existed.

About 15 years ago I bought a Chicago & Eastern Illinois HO coach (orange lettering) at a show.  It doesn't appear to be custom painted.  I have never seen any other cars in this road.  Anyone know who made it?