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I too have done some railfanning in foreign lands while doing general sightseeing. Yes, they allow cameras just about anywhere, except in the most repressive countries. I was serving in the U.S. Military at the time (Vietnam War). I carried and used my camera to take pictures of all sorts of things in several countries, including trains and trackage. Among those places I visited were Japan, Taiwan, HongKong, Philipines, Singapore, Autrailia, New Zealand, and others. Now in hindsight, if train photography is such a sensitive security issue, the sight of a foreign military man in uniforn, taking pictures of their "sensitive" areas, should have raised a ruckus, especially in countries near the war. Nowhere was I molested, bothered, or even questioned, though plenty of people saw me, even officials. I was welcomed just about anywhere I went. Only at the Manila Central Station did anyone even give it any concern. I was aware of being watched by uniformed security, but they did not even question me. Indeed, in Sidney Austrailia, one could purchase train watchers guides in any railway station or uptown book store. They tell of all sorts of railroad information and trivia, and good places for photography. It seems its a national pastime there. Now my point is that much of this halabaloo is silly. Yes we should be respectful of other country's sensitivities, and especially to our own. But let's not allow crass corporate nonsense to inflame national paranioa. Whatever security issues there are can be resolved, and Americans, including railfans, can continue about their normal activities, just as the President has counceled us to do. We need to make our case to those responsible for our security. Most railfans would be patriotic enough to help, anyway - and would generally be knowledgable enough to recognize unusual or dangerous activies. In this way, railfanning becomes Pro-American. RmC
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