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[[Severn_Valley_Railway_Timeline_1970-1979#1974 | 1974]] saw the opening of the line as far as [[Bewdley]]. The timetable was planned to include short workings between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade (often referred to as the "shuttle") with a 45 minute interval.<ref>SVR News 30, 31</ref> Good Friday saw the first passenger services to [[Highley]], with No. 22 working the inaugural service from Bridgnorth to Highley and thereby making the first crossing of passenger services at Hampton Loade with [[600|600 Gordon]] which had worked ECS to Highley earlier that morning. On Saturday 18 May 1974 the first through passenger service from Bridgnorth to Bewdley was also worked by No. 22, with Jinty [[47383]] operating the Hampton Loade "shuttle". Normal practice became for the shuttle to use the railcar on Saturdays, and a small tank locomotive with 2-3 coaches on Sundays.<ref>SVR News 32</ref>
By the end of 1974 most passenger departures from Bridgnorth were to Bewdley with the shuttle being lightly loaded. In October 1974 the Railcar's owners G.W. Preservations gave notice of the intention to terminate the current loan agreement with a view to the parties reviewing its future.<ref group="note">Correspondence in SVR News suggests GWP's concern was principally that they were responsible for maintaining the vehicle but received no reciprocal benefit from the SVR's use of it</ref> Reporting of this at the 1974 AGM led to some adverse comment from SVR members and in turn ill feeling from GWS members. The approved 1985 1975 timetable saw the end of the early Saturday shopper service and the shuttle. It also excluded the railcar due to its 'uncertain future'.<ref>SVR News 34</ref>
In Spring 1975 SVR News noted that "…''it is the intention of both G.W.P. and SVR that Railcar 22 should remain on the SVR, subject to a special agreement concerning the two bodies, to be discussed further in the future''". The eventual agreement that summer concluded that "''The G.W.P.'s Railcar No. 22 would remain on the SVR. for a minimum period of five years, after which removal from the line would be paid for by the SVR. The vehicle is to be kept in a condition satisfactory to the owners and G.W.P. publicity will be displayed in the vehicle. G.W.S. and its Group to be able to operate the vehicle on up to six occasions each year without charge.
==Other GWR Railcars on the Severn Valley Railway==
The first generation diesel railcars were used around the Kidderminster / Bewdley / Hartlebury triangle from 1936.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Beddoes & Smith (1995)]] p. 116.</ref> However they were not then used on the Tenbury Branch as they were not capable of hauling an extra coach on the steeper gradients involved. The advent of the second generation railcars saw them introduced there from 18 August 1941.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Beddoes & Smith (1995)]] p. 133.</ref>
Other GWR railcars were also used in service on the Severn Valley and Tenbury branches. In the early 1940s these included streamlined railcars numbers 5, 6 and 7.<ref name = "Turley" /> A photograph by Mike Cuthbert shows W7W at Bewdley on 14 September 1957. SVR News 43 includes a picture of a burned out railcar in the up sidings at [[Bridgnorth]] following a serious fire. The caption identifies this as W7W in August 1956, although it is probably W10W which was destroyed in a fire at Bridgnorth on 9 March 1956.<ref>[http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/aec4.htm Great Western Archive]</ref>
