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The normal arrangement was that locomotives would leave the SVR and travel to other steam centres, in particular the Bulmers Railway Centre at Hereford, to run tours from there. The time spent away could vary from days to months. In between, locomotives would return to the SVR for repairs and overhauls, as well as working services on the SVR itself. The SVR also organised some of of these railtours.
The first recorded use of the SVR's rolling stock on the main line was an excursion from Bridgnorth to Paddington on 13 November 1976. This was hauled by 25292 and 25272 from Bewdley to Kidderminster, and by 47120 to Paddington.<ref>[http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/761113sv.html Railtour details on Six Bells Junction]</ref><ref>[http:/http://www.hatspics.co.uk/type_years_photos.php?type=SVR&year=1976 Alan Thwaites images on hatspics]</ref>
The first recorded use of an SVR based locomotive in revenue-earning service on the main line was [[GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall|6960 Raveningham Hall]], which hauled the ‘Cathedrals Express’ from Hereford to Chester on 8 April 1978. ([http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/780408fw.htm Railtour details on Six Bells Junction]). The last SVR-resident steam locomotive to work a main line excursion was 7802 Bradley Manor in 2007, although SVR-based diesels are still regularly used for this purpose.
