The Searchlight Car No. 3620 would not have the remote on-off switch mechanism that was on the No. 3520. See the illustration of the bottom view below.

The searchlight would be in continuous operation as long as power was supplied to the track. Issued from 1954 through 1956, this car would have a GRAY painted depressed center die-cast chassis, steps at the four corners, and one brake wheel opposite the searchlight. Came with bar-end trucks with magnetic couplers. There are eight variations that revolve around the rubber-stamped lettering on the sides and the color of the searchlight head.

Variation A: has thin lettering and an unpainted GRAY plastic searchlight head.

Variation B: has thin lettering and an unpainted ORANGE plastic searchlight head.

Variation C: has thin lettering and a GRAY painted ORANGE plastic searchlight head.

Variation D: has thin lettering and a GRAY painted GRAY plastic searchlight head.

Variation E: has thick lettering and an unpainted GRAY plastic searchlight head.

Variation F: has thick lettering and an unpainted ORANGE plastic searchlight head.

Variation G: has thick lettering and a GRAY painted ORANGE plastic searchlight head.

Variation H: has thick lettering and a GRAY painted GRAY plastic searchlight head.

It is believed that Variation B and F were created when Lionel ran out of GRAY plastic and used the same color for the searchlight heads that was used for the generator on these cars. Collectors should be aware that the GRAY paint used on Variation C and G has sometimes been removed from the searchlight head in an attempt to obtain Variation B or F. This was most likely done to improve the appearance of the piece since the GRAY painted ORANGE plastic searchlight head version is worth slightly more. None the less, all of the ORANGE plastic searchlight head variations are rare. Reproductions exist of this searchlight head, but they do not bear the Lionel inscription "3520-12 / [Lionel Stylized] 'L' / LIONEL" on the back. See the picture at the top of this page.