Even in late the 1970's and 1980's Mail was still going by rail and platform 1 was used to load and unload parcels from Post Office and mail vans.

There was a loading dock were the man is walking. It was used for unloading parcels and boxes. When the circus came to Peterborough circus animals would unload here and some of them walk though the town to the old show ground or the river embankment.

Platform one at Peterborough station was a bay platform. In British Rail days in 1970's and 1980's it was often only used to store parcels and Post Office and mail vans during the day.

In late the 1970's and 1980's there was still a lot of Mail going by rail and of course newspapers, and platform one was very useful for this vans. During the night the stations were full of mail bags with mail trains stopping at all stations along the ECML and unloading and loading all night. These mail trains often had passengers as well. It was slow but you got home. Not like today when there's no passengers trains during the night and you can face a 8 hour wait for the next train.

The odd DMU would use platform one but most Peterborough London stopping trains used platform three because it was longer. These were more than often than not a class 31s and mark ones. Craven units were used but gave a very poor ride and there engines over heated on the long distance to London between stations at their top speed.