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For many years the SVR was closely associated with steam excursions on the main line. In the mid-1970s, even before the company acquired the final section of the line from Foley Park, the SVR set out to become a ‘BR approved’ steam centre, supplying locomotives and rolling stock overhauled to BR standards for use on main line excursions and charters.
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 a BR Western Class diesel locomotive 25292 and 25272 from Bewdleyto Kidderminster, and later by a Class 47 Diesel47120 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 [[Former Residents|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])
==SVR-based locomotives which hauled revenue-earning services on the main line==
