Greetings, John. Yes, we do have a preserved railway near us, by name, Strasburg Railroad. It's about an hour's drive from where we live, and the live steam is still going strong! let me see if I can find a quick link to send you. Since i'm new to forums, i' not entirely sure I'm allowed to post a link, but I'll try it anyway: http://www.strasburgrailroad.com

morning, Yorky.
Security is one thing, but I have yet to understand the ridiculous treatment we spotters sometimes get. What harm can there possibly be in taking photos of trains at a station? in fact, when I was in London a few years ago, I snapped many photos at Paddington Station, and no one said a word to me.