The Cable Reel Car No. 6402 was in the advance catalog of 1962, and was also available in 1964 through 1966, and again during the last year of post-war production: 1969. Produced on an 1877-3 mold, it came with either AAR or arch bar trucks. There are five variations of this car:

Variation A: GRAY car with ORANGE reels. Issued as part of Set No. 11001 issued in 1962.

Variation B: MAROON car with ORANGE reels. Issued in 1962.

Variation C: BROWN car with ORANGE or GRAY reels with late AAR trucks and disc couplers. Cataloged as 6402-50 in Set No. 11500 issued in 1964.

Variation D: GRAY car with empty ORANGE or GRAY cable reels and arch bar trucks. Issued in 1965-66.

Variation E: GRAY car with BLUE No. 6801-75 boat. Issued in Set No. 11730 in 1969.

This car was an often found component in uncataloged sets. In these sets it is often found with different loads like automobiles of various colors, jeep with cannon, tanks, etc. If Lionel issued numbers for these various loads they are not known.