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Some evidence of 25498's use in service was found during subsequent restoration at the SVR. It appears that the first livery included the upper half being covered with grained imitation wood paint (presumably the LNER scumble-grained mock teak), over which layers of BR grey had subsequently been applied.<ref name=SVR75/> Paper stickers found in the doors referred to use on 'Continental Boat Trains', and also to a football special between Liverpool Lime Street and Nottingham at £4.00 per head.<ref>Charitable Trust information poster in E25498.</ref>
25498 was still in BR(E) service on the day it was examined at Heaton Depot, Newcastle by members of the [[L.M.S. & B.R. Coach Department Sales Coach|L.M.S. & B.R. Coach Fund]] as a prospective candidate for preservation as a replacement for their first BR Mk 1, [[Carriages formerly resident on the SVR#Carriages scrapped while at the SVR|E24726]]. It was then given special protection by the depot staff until its forward movement to the SVR, with the arrival from Heaton taking place on 16 May 1983.
25498 initially entered SVR service in BR's in blue and grey livery. It received a quick 'spray repaint' in Bridgnorth cattle dock in late August 2004,<ref name=SVR75/> followed by re-bedding the windows in early 1989<ref>SVR News 92</ref> (25498 has the earlier pattern of windows with the glass set in mastic and pressed against the outside steel plate; some Mk1s had the windows set in from the outside to help prevent leaks and rust formation). Later in 1989 25498 was withdrawn from service for a six-week overhaul at Bridgnorth. It required welded repairs to seven locations on the bodyside panelling, and also renewal of the entire roof tank filler pipe layout which had collapsed during painting. Internally several damaged pieces of upholstery were replaced and all the seats were shampooed, while externally it was repainted in BR Crimson and Cream livery.<ref>SVR News 94</ref>
During summer 2003 returned to Kidderminster for bogie repairs, steam-heat overhaul, buckeye and drawgear attention and its lavatory tank dump-valves overhauling.<ref>SVR News 144</ref> In late 2005 it received further minor repairs and a repaint at Kidderminster.<ref>SVR News 152</ref>
In 2007 the original owning group, [[L.M.S. & B.R. Coach Department Sales Coach| The LMS & BR Coach Fund]], donated all its vehicles and merged with the Severn Valley Railway Rolling Stock Trust, now the [[Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd | SVR Charitable Trust]].
25498 was 'red carded' in March 2010 with excessive wheel flats. Financial constraints at the time meant that it was February 2011 before the coach could be sent to Bristol Barton Hill for tyre turning. On return, the doors were rebuilt and the coach received a full repaint and interior refurbishment at Kidderminster.<ref>SVR News 170, 173, 176</ref>
