Changes

A total of 65 locomotives had originally been planned to be exhibited at Shildon, although this was eventually reduced to around 35 by BR inspections and non-readiness. The SVR's only non-attendee was 70000 Britannia, whose restoration including firebox repairs was still in progress (and would not be completed until 1978). Work on transforming Gordon from a working locomotive into a 'museum exhibit' began in mid-June and included a repaint into fully lined Longmoor Blue livery. The time for preparing the SVR's other attendees was even more limited, with both 43106 and 8233 in regular SVR service until early July before cleaning and painting could begin. At the same time BR needed the locomotives to be delivered earlier than anticipated, due to their difficulties on finding sufficient crews with steam experience in an area of the country which had been 'steam-free' for almost eight years. For several weeks all three locos were ''…worked on furiously in Bridgnorth yard'' with "...''a great deal of weekend, weekday and evening activity''."<ref>SVR News 36, p.30., ''Shildon 1975, Alan Wilkinson</ref> GWR 813, which had spent a number of years undergoing restoration, was re-assembled and cosmetically restored, including painting and lettering at Bewdley, travelling to Shildon by road to appear as a static exhibit.<ref>SVR News 175</ref>

None of the four SVR carriages originally requested appeared at the event. Restoration work on 5883 was unfinished, with its place at Shildon taken by [[Carriages formerly resident on the SVR | 'Clapham' Buffet 9631]] whose restoration had taken priority.<ref name="SVRNews36">SVR News 36</ref> [[LNER 4236 Gangwayed Passenger Brake | LNER 4236]], which had arrived on the SVR in April 1975, was hastily repainted into LNER brown "imitation varnished teak" livery, providing an LNER representative in place of 10078. [[LMS 26986 Brake Third Corridor|LMS 26986]] was touched in and revarnished before replacing LMS 12992.