How easy to "marry" Lionel 6560 parts? Why would anyone want to?

[Retin16]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forums but a long-time CTT subscriber.  This weekend I inventoried my postwar Lionel pieces.  Among them is a 6560-25 Bucyrus-Erie work crane with an original box.  My crane has solid cranks and bar-end trucks, the combination of which isn't listed as a variation in the Greenburg price guide.  Maybe I'm off base, but I think that having a box adds credibility to it having come from the factory this way:  if the owner kept the box, they probably took care to preserve the contents in original condition.  I know it's possible, but is it likely that someone "married" parts to create this crane?  Why would they do it to a common piece like this?  It's not like someone tried to pass it off on me as an exotic variation.  I bought it years ago, for an average price as compared to the price guide.  I'm just wondering what to make of this.  Thanks.

[rtraincollector]

Not all variations is listed in the price guide. You need something Like David Doyle Standard catalog of LIONEL TRAINS 1945-1969

You have 6560 type 1 "the first several thousands were equipted with part no. 484-1 bar ended trucks"

[KRM]

RT is correct for the 6560. As for the 6560-25 it is listed as bar-end trucks with two boxes they could come in.

Seems like the closed crank should not be on the 6560-25.

(Red Cab, Numbered 656025 - Molded red cab, open hand cranks and bar-end trucks. Has the hard-to-find '656025' numbers on the frame. This is a one-year-only item from 1956 and is hard to find in collector condition.)

http://postwarlionel.com/freight-cars/crane-cars/6560-bucyrus-erie/

Tamden site links

6560

http://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionel_trains_6560_operating_car.htm

6560-25

http://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionel_trains_6560-25_operating_car.htm