Trustworthy, bureaucrat, administrator
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A Ministry of Transport Railway Inspector visited the SVR in March and made certain recommendations concerning safety aspects. Following that visit the second Light Railway Order was granted on 20 May 1970, allowing the SVR to begin running public services. Whit weekend, Saturday 23 May 1970 saw the official opening of the Severn Valley Railway in preservation, with the first public trains running between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Hampton Loade]]. Loco [[GWR 2251 Class 3205|3205]] hauled the first service, the 14:00 from Bridgnorth. [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443|46443]], [[LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106|43106]], [[LMS Stanier 8F 48773|48773]] and [[Railcar 22]] were also used over that weekend.
The following weekend saw trains begin to run a regular weekend service. However 3 weeks after opening a potential problem emerged. Although the LRO gave the [[Severn Valley Railway Company Limited|Guarantee Company]] a ‘license’ to operate, the line itself was still owned by BR and therefore subject to the BR steam ban. Services therefore ceased, but within 2 weeks SVR members and well-wishers from around the world had boosted the ‘line fund’ to the extent that the balance of the £25,000 purchase price could be paid to BR. Services then re-commenced, with the line now owned by the SVR itself. By 12 July the 10,000th passenger had already been made the return journey to Hampton Loade, the final figure at December would be more than 63,000.
During the year another 3 locomotives arrived; [[LMS Stanier Class 5 45110|LMS Stanier 5MT 45110]] on 20 August, [[GWR Small Prairie 4566|GWR Churchward 4500 'Small Prairie' No 4566]] on 25 August, and [[GWR Pannier 1501|BR(W) Hawksworth 1500 class 0-6-0PT No 1501]] on 7 November.
