The Track Maintenance Flat Car No. 6812 was available from 1959 until 1961. Produced on a RED 6511-2 or 6424-11 mold it came with early AAR trucks equipped with disc couplers. This flat car has its WHITE heat-stamped number to the left of the "LIONEL" side inscription. Came with two BLUE men that had FLESH painted faces and hands. The upper man was contained in a parts envelope and the lower man (Part No. 3562-62) was mounted on the chassis. The platform would raise and lower with the use of a hand crack located on this platform. The hand crank always matches the color of the platform.

There are seven variations:

Variation A: CREAM superstructure and platform parts. Difficult to find.

Variation B: DARK YELLOW superstructure and platform parts.

Variation C: LEMON YELLOW superstructure and platform parts.

Variation D: BLACK superstructure and platform parts.

Variation E: GRAY superstructure and platform parts.

Variation F: BLACK superstructure and GRAY platform and crank handle.

Variation G: GRAY superstructure and BLACK platform and crank handle.

Because the superstructure and the platform pieces are interchangeable they are not associated with either mold used to cast this flat car. The above listed color combinations are the generally accepted configurations that this car is believed to have been issued.

Included with this car was envelope No. 6812-40 that contained the upper platform crew man. A No. 6812-22 instruction sheet dated 8-59 was also included. It was printed with BLUE ink on WHITE paper. A picture of the front page of this sheet is shown below.

The platform railings and the handle on the crank that raises the platform are often found broken or missing. Reproduction parts are available for these parts and also for the figures. Collectors should always check the authenticity of these parts.