The British Rail Class 506 was a 3 carriage electric multiple unit (EMU) built for local services between Manchester, Glossop and Hadfield on the Woodhead Line, which was electrified in 1954 on the 1,500 V DC overhead system.

The EMUs were equipped with a single diamond-shaped pantograph, mounted over the driver's cab and adjacent guard's compartment at the outer end of the driving motor carriage.

They rarely operated east of Hadfield anyway, due to low gearing and the risk of overheating;[4] however, trials were conducted in 1969 to assess the possibility of use through the Woodhead Tunnel.

[3] There is a suggestion that the motor coaches would originally have been numbered 29401-8,[9] but this may be a typo - the initial digit "2" would imply the North Eastern Area of the former LNER, while "5" denotes the Great Central Section.

[3] The class operated local services between Manchester Piccadilly, Glossop and Hadfield on the Woodhead Line.

The middle car turned on its side as a result and was dragged for 90 yards before coming to rest against an overbridge.

[3] After their withdrawal, unit 59404-59504-59604 was set aside for preservation, but the rest were all sent to Vic Berry in Leicester for scrap; they were cut up in April 1985.