Nice review of one of the classics from that era! I am a little puzzled as to the electrocoupler being present right out of the box, most sets did not come with the electrocoupler, but it was offered as an add-on "kit". Back in the late 90's there were a few engines that were "almost there" in terms of all the TMCC "bells and whistles" of the time, and just missing the electrocoupler, so couplers were offered a year or so later for most of these engines. Some of the early TMCC GP-9's from the same era were also like this.
To me, this set was what started my O Gauge hobby/obsession. 
In late 1996, I had just finished college and saw the ads for this Warhorse set in one of the train mags. Having been into HO growing up, my initial thought was to try to make a similar set with HO components since I had 2 of the Bachmann HO J-Class engines already (less the weathering detail, I was just going for "close" with the engine/hopper/caboose pairings).
When I landed my first "real" job a few months later, I decided to buy this set from my LHS. That was the beginning of the end! 
. Aside from a Lionel Village Trolley set I had bought for under the Christmas tree a year or 2 earlier, this was my first O Gauge purchase on my own.
Thanks for bringing back some memories. I might have to dig this out to run now!
Side note, while not part of the set, there was a supposed "add-on" hopper car that was strangely not weathered. It was the same style in every other way (all indications seemed to point to it being intended as an "add-on"), but it obviously looks odd with the rest of the set.
-Dave
