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Following overhaul, Taw Valley underwent a test run on the main line in late 1996, during which the middle cylinder liner suffered damage. Repairs required the removal of the old liner, re-boring of the cylinder block, and installing and re-boring a new liner.<ref>SVR News 121</ref> The new cylinder liner was machined at the SVR as a contract job during 1998.<ref>SVR News 127</ref> By 2000, Taw Valley was again working on the main line, notably appearing around the country that year in maroon livery as 'Hogwarts Express' to publicise the Harry Potter books which were then being published.
Taw Valley arrived back on the SVR on 11 April 2001 having been put up for sale by Bert Hitchen and acquired by long-standing SVR member benefactor Phil Swallow with colleagues Nigel Barnes and Mark Younger via [[Taw Valley Limited]]. <ref>[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04117767 Companies House page] (retrieved 12 November 2017)</ref><ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/bljul20 'Branch Lines', July 2020] (Retrieved 16 July 2020)</ref> The locomotive soon became a regular on SVR services and took part in the 2001 Autumn Steam Gala, still in 'Hogwarts Express' livery.<ref>SVR News 136, 137, 138</ref> Taw Valley returned briefly to the main line, working main line tours either side of Christmas.
In March 2002 Taw Valley appeared at the Spring Steam Gala running as 34045 Ottery St. Mary. The locomotive then spent nearly two months during the summer in the boiler shop in a semi stripped-down state with the cab removed to enable two thirds of the boiler stays to be replaced. Despite a major effort, the Locomotive Department were just unable to complete the work in time for the Autumn Steam Gala.<ref>SVR News 140, 141</ref>.
