The steam train season is in full swing on the main line with tour trains going to Kingswear with an engine picked up from Taunton supplied by the West Somerset Railway.

The departure back from Kingswear arrives at Paignton at 1725hrs. The station is locked up except for a single gate, one side of the double gate is locked shut on platform 2. All the staff have gone home at 1700hrs.
The previous local leaving at 1717hrs the guard is selling tickets at the gate as it's easier than doing it on the train which can get crowded. I bet a lot of the guards don't bother.
The only staff man I saw was from Dartmouth Steam Railway who had operated the Sands Road level crossing which is manually operated.

You would think GWR would keep someone on the station until 17.30hrs.

 

Playing Devil's Advocate, why?  Evening national network ticket sales handled by train staff.  Loos locked, no doubt.  Most people there aren't there to bring extra business to First group because there's a member of staff. Most have arrived earlier in the day so are perfectly capable of getting on the trains.