Kettering railway station

Before the present bridge was constructed access to platforms was via a tunnel, now sealed

Trainspotting in the mid 50's to early 60's was a serious pastime. Loco books were bought from the Countryside Library (opposite Granada) to mark off number identification of trains spotted in the Kettering mainline area. Platform tickets cost 1d. from a machine at the station to gain admittance to the platforms. But many kids climbed up the embankment from Northampton Rd. to gain access free. After all when pocket money ranged from 3 to 6d. a week one had to take certain risks to spread it out. Every so often a ticket inspector would stroll the platforms to check tickets. A mass exodus would then occur back down the embankment until he had gone. Then one by one the miscreants would reappear.Trainspotting was indeed a serious business.