The Lionel Bucyrus Erie Crane Car No. 6560 was first available from 1955 until 1964 and again in 1966. The cab was changed in 1955 so it mounted on a less expensive frame with three tabs. It also included an integral smokestack as part of the injection mold. NOTE: Crane cars that were produced in 1963 and 1964 carry the designation 6560-50 and usually came with one solid non-operating coupler and one operating disc coupler. There are ten variations for this car:

Variation A: has an ORANGE/RED cab that was issued in various shades. Used frame mold No. 2460-5.

Variation B: has a painted RED cab.

Variation C: has a BLACK cab with smokestack. Lionel was using left over productions parts from the late issues of the No. 282 Ganty Crane.

Variation D: has a GRAY cab with open cranks and bar-end trucks.

Variation E: has a RED cab with open cranks and bar-end trucks.

Variation F: has a RED cab with open cranks, no "6560" number printed on frame, and bar-end trucks.

Variation G: has a RED cab with open cranks and AAR trucks.

Variation H: has a RED cab with closed cranks and AAR trucks.

Variation I: has a DARK BLUE frame with a RED cab and came in a Hagerstown box. The cab has open cranks and different truck and coupler combinations. Since the cranks, pulleys, and hook on some of these late production cranes were chemically blackened some of these components appear almost BRONZE in color.

Variation J: has a RED cab with various truck and coupler combinations. Only the number "6560" is rubber-stamped on the sides of these cars. This is probably an early MPC production that was using up old stock.