Theurig, the release wire size for the 124 cars is 2mm diameter. When bent into a U-shape I'd estimate that each side of the U is 2 1/2" long so I doubt that a push pin will work. On the 124 cars the black barrel slips over the cylinder lock and comes out as a unit when the 2 release points are pushed simultaneously ... no need to unscrew the barrel. Apparently the 126 design and the 124 design differ.

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Fred Hoelzle