Stafford in the 80s (1983/84) was very bureaucratic.
In September 1983, staying with family in Stafford, I attempted to gain access to the platforms for a session of railway observation by buying a platform ticket.
Was denied access, as you had to apply for a permit to gain access to the platforms for railway observation. This required 24 hours notice, and we were leaving the next day - so it was a non-starter.
Had done the same thing in Feb '83 and there was no problem so presumably they had particularly officious people at the ticket barriers that day.
Next time (Dec '83) I borrowed a permit from my cousin, which was doubtless a very bad thing to do.
And the time after that (Aug '84) my parents got the permit for me, as we had got there in time for the 24-hour notice they needed. There was no cost for the permit, it was just a bureaucratic thing.
Then at Guildford in '86, on the way to East Croydon, I was accused of having an invalid ticket while waiting for the DMU to Redhill as apparently "it was his son's birthday today, so I know that date is not today". Er... I'd just bought the ticket from the office so the only logical conclusion was that said person didn't know when his son's birthday was.
At the other end of the scale, I visited Reading multiple occasions between 1984 and 1986 and was never harassed once - though admittedly I had travelled there by train and had a valid ticket, rather than attempting to enter the platforms with a platform ticket.
New Street was the only place where I had any problems. On a more positive note many railwaymen were quite happy that someone other than grumpy commuters was taking an interest in their industry and working practices. Paddington stands out as one of these. One day back in 1975 I asked a ticket collector if I might take one of the paper window labels from the up Golden Hind after arrival and before they cleaned the stock for the next working. He went away and returned not only with the said window label but also gave me some BR uniform badges as well.
Nice, reminds me of the time I was with another guy from school at Woking and he somehow blagged his way into 'cabbing' St Vincent. Driver was very friendly.
Found Reading had a pro-enthusiast ethos (see other post), enthusiasts there were very obvious but no-one raised objections and many staff seemed to be quite approachable and happy to have a chat. Seem to remember one member of staff giving some 'gen' about 'Invincible' and 'Howe' double-heading an Oxford stopper one occasion in January 1984, so to be on the look out for that working. Perhaps not surprising as Reading was the obvious go-to station for much of the South to see inter-city workings and a wide variety of traction. Also a very pleasant place to linger as it was a very open, non-claustrophobic station.