The Lionel Bucyrus Erie Crane Car No. 6560 was first available in 1955 and was in continual production until 1964 and was again released from 1966 until the end of the Post War Period in 1969. The cab was changed in 1955 so it mounted on a less expensive frame with three tabs. It also included a smokestack as an integral part of the cab injection mold. NOTE: Crane cars that were produced in 1963 and 1964 carry the designation 6560-50 and are usually found 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. The first 2000 (est.) cars were equipped with bar-end trucks that utilized a spacer and a 4/32" x 7/32" screw to hold the trucks to the chassis. Early 1955 production.

Variation B: Same as Variation A except has a painted RED cab and heat-stamped lettering but no "6560" number stamp on the chassis sides. A scarce variation.

Variation C: Has a BLACK cab with smokestack. Lionel was using left over productions parts from the late issues of the No. 282 Gantry Crane and this cab was most likely a Lionel Service Station replacement.

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

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. A difficult to variation to find.

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 chassis 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 closed cranks and came with various truck and coupler combinations. Only the number "6560" is rubber-stamped on the sides of these cars. This is most likely an early MPC production that was using up old stock.