British Rail Class 506

The British Rail Class 506 was a 3-carriage electric multiple unit (EMU). This type was built for local services between Manchester, Glossop and Hadfield on the . 

The eight units were introduced in 1954. The Class 506 made improvements over the steam trains they replaced. They served the Glossop and Hadfield service for 30 years. The units were replaced in 1984 when the line was converted to AC power supply. One Class 506 train was set aside for preservation, but had rotted beyond restoration. Only the cab of one of the carriages had survived.

 Construction and design 
In 1938, the London and North Eastern Railway ordered eight three-car trains. They were not built until 1950. The trains entered service in June 1954.

 Operational history 
When the Class 506 entered service, the number of suburban trains per day was increased from 17 to 31. The journey time between Manchester and Hadfield/Glossop was reduced by one third. These were improvements from the steam trains the Class 506 replaced. Within three months after entering service, four times more passengers used the Glossop service.

The Class 506 rarely go east of Hadfield. This was because the trains had low gearing and the risk of overheating. Test runs east of Hadfield were conducted in 1969. This was done to see a possible use through the .

In March 1983,  was closed. This meant Class 506 trains were transferred to Longsight depot. They had be hauled by diesel locomotives to and from Longsight for maintenance and storage. This was because the Class 506 did not match the 25 kV AC electrical supply.

 Withdrawal and preservation 
In 1981, the Woodhead line was closed east of Hadfield. At this point, the Class 506 trains were nearing 30 years old. The units ran for the final time on 7 December 1984. Following this, the Manchester to Hadfield/Glossop line switched to AC electrical supply. Class 303 trains were moved from Glasgow to replace the Class 506. 

After withdrawal, unit '04 was set aside for preservation. The rest were sent to  for scrap. They were recycled there in April 1985.

The West Yorkshire Transport Museum had secured unit '04 for preservation. The train was first based at the Dinting Railway Museum. It was then moved to the former Bradford Hammerton Street Depot. Eventually, the unit ended up on the .

At this point, the train's body had rotted severely. The unit was sold to  for recycling in August 1995. The cab end of the motor carriage was salvaged. This piece is currently owned by The Cab Yard in Wales.

 Related pages 
 British Rail Class 76
 British Rail Class 77
 British Rail Class 306
 LNER electric units

 References 

 Sources 






 Other websites 

 The Glossop Line Class 506 Electric Multiple Units – LNER Encyclopedia

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