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==Source==Trevor DawM51935 was extensively damaged by fire in May 2008 in what was believed to be an arson attack. The Group acquired powered car M50933/53933 as a replacement. 51935 was transported off site and completely dismantled. A significant number of components, ‘DMU Group (West Midlands) Progress’including body panels, SVR News Issue 131were able to be recovered for use elsewhere.
Typo
The charters and scenic cruises quickly proved popular, and in June 1992 the Group purchased unpowered centre car M59250. This entered service in November 1992, making the DMU a 3-car unit including buffet facilities. 1993 saw the introduction of the Saturday evening ‘fish & chips’ rail cruises.
The popularity of the buffet led to a demand for more formal catering. Initially this comprised a full dining service of 8 covers in the first class salon saloon of M52064, cooked in a kitchen measuring four by three feet!
In June 1992 the Group had purchased powered car M51935 as a source of spares for the 2-car unit. However it was soon converted into a catering vehicle, with a full size kitchen in the brake compartment, a bar lounge in the smaller passenger compartment and seating for 20 diners in the larger passenger compartment. Between 1993 and 1996 the DMU ran as a rather unconventional 4-car unit including 3 powered cars.
In autumn 1996 the Group acquired its final car, unpowered Driving Trailer Composite 56208, giving an additional 65 seats capacity. With 5 operational cars the Group was then in a position to operate two different sets depending on seasonal demand, at that time unique in preservation. Although formal dining ended in 1999, the traditional summer evening cruises with bar and buffet continue to the present day.
== See Also Sources==Trevor Daw, ‘DMU Group (West Midlands) Progress’, SVR News Issue 131.<br>SVR News<br>DMU Group (West Midlands) website
== See also ==
[[List of preservation groups]]<br>
[[Class 108 DMU]]
== Links ==
*[http://httphttps://www.svr-dmu.org.uk/ DMU Group (West Midlands) website]*[https://dmuwmbsb.wordpress.com/ Blue Square blog]
