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Passenger services between [[Bewdley]], [[Kidderminster]] and [[Hartlebury]] were withdrawn by BR in January 1970. This resulted in Bewdley Station becoming disused, along with the lines from Bewdley to [[Stourport]] and [[Foley Park Halt|Foley Park]]. The original Severn Valley Railway remained open for coal traffic between Hartlebury and Stourport Power Station, while a section of “The Loop” remained open between [[Kidderminster Junction signal box|Kidderminster Junction]] and the [[Foley Park sidings|British Sugar Corporation factory]] at Foley Park.
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.
Following the closure of Bewdley Station, the SVR advised BR that it was not interested in acquiring any of the line from Bewdley to Stourport, which was affected by a number of road schemes. However the SVR would be interested in acquiring the line from Milepost 144½ at [[Alveley Sidings|Alveley]] to Bewdley and Foley Park, in order to maintain their main line access. In October, BR Estates Department advised the SVR that Salop and Worcester County Councils, who legally had first refusal, did not wish to acquire the railway land, and that the cost to the SVR would be £74,000. On 23 October the SVR members agreed in principle to proceed, although the cost was significantly more than the Society had previously raised to date.
The total mileages recorded by the SVR’s steam locomotives at the end of 1970 were as follows:
| <b>Locomotive</b> || style="text-align:right;" | <b>1967-1970</b>
|-
| [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443 |46443]] || style="text-align:right;" | 2,104
|-
| [[LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106 |43106]] || style="text-align:right;" | 1,340
|-
| [[WD 193 Shropshire ]] || style="text-align:right;" | 1,021
|-
| [[GWR 2251 Class 3205 |3205]] || style="text-align:right;" | 900
|-
| [[LMS Stanier 8F 48773 |48773]] || style="text-align:right;" | 445
|-
| [[LMS Stanier Class 5 45110 |45110]] || style="text-align:right;" | 398
|-
| [[Peckett 1738 |1738]] || style="text-align:right;" | 2
|-
| <b>Total</b> || style="text-align:right;" | <b>6,210</b>
