I never had the pleasure of making many trips by train but I used to have to go to stations in BR days as part of my job but always travelled by road! (Why? Because it was quicker!)

One day I was at Selly Oak station and met, for the first time a coloured man! He was sweeping the platform and just brushed the sweepings straight on to the tracks which were covered in litter!

Also in the Birmingham area was Hockley Goods station/Depot. A massive place, loads of people all mucking about but not seeming to be actually doing anything.

I can't now remember where it was but I once had to go to a BR office, an amazing place seemingly in two parts the "rough" part and the sumptuous part. The thing was, there was nobody there. I had to fix what I'd gone there for and that was that.

My dealings with BR staff were fraught with "couldn't-care-less" attitudes.