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Re: (rshsdepot) Madison, NJ

Paul Luchter wrote:

> Will someone please tell me what the security reason is for this aversion to
> photography? It seems rather senseless.

Only about 99% senseless.  Pictures of stations, bridges, etc. could be used by
prospective saboteurs to predetermine where they might place explosive or
antipersonnel devices.  Otherwise, they'd be forced to simply walk in, look
around, and figure it out on the spot, poor things.  Restrictions on
photographing transit installations were, I believe, common in Europe during WW
II and in Eastern Europe during the Cold War.  When I visited Budapest in 1972,
I was strictly forbidden to photograph stations;  when I visited in 1999 or so,
the only obstacle to my shooting was a local prostitute who assumed that any
solo male with a good camera might have money to spare for other forms of
enjoyment.

> I think it is paranoia to the extreme and totally pointless....satellite
> photos on the internet I can understand, they actually could be used for
> positioning for long range attacks, . . . I also don't give the terrorists
> much credit
> for intricate knowledge of much, after all they used box cutters and in
> Oklahoma a bomb made of fertilizer was used....

And a few tons of ammonium nitrate were recently stolen in North Carolina.

Ivan Berger



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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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