Interesting timing this thread, Ive been photographing 40+ years, and in more than 50 countries, even some dodgy ones, and never had an issue.
However in the last 3 months Ive found a total step change around London..
first up Clapham Junction, last month, was the worst, and SES security guards saying photography is banned under terrorism laws… they actually got quite strong as several of them approached me all at once and surrounded us, it felt as if they were waiting to catch someone. My 10 year old daughter was with me and got quite distressed.
I have printed out Network Rail / Southern guidelines, but they count for nowt, the SES guys at Clapham took it off me and didnt give it back, and were asking me to delete my pictures (of the yard taken from the footbridge) and said they would take my phone if I didnt comply, I didn’t really have a lot of choice in that so I did… it was very intimidating. Ive since emailed both network rail to ask for clarity, but a month on ive no reply, and let it go.
But.. it repeated a second time last week with 35018 where SES came to clear the platform as the train was in sight, though this time it was just the 1 person, shouting to return up platform 5. However minutes earlier, another security guard shouted at me in the tunnel whilst walk/running between 15 and 5 to see 35018 that I had to put cameras away whilst walking through the tunnel as its forbidden (i was just carrying it on my shoulder moving between platforms).
The first encounter, the security guards for their side did say they were told every morning that under no circumstance are people to take pictures without any exceptions, saying they had been told it is a strict non-negotiable policy, referencing the Manchester Terrorist attacks.
those three events have convinced me Clapham junction is no longer welcoming. Security presence at Clapham Junction is quite large, 30+ people at least.. 1 at each set of stairs minimum, both footbridge and tunnel, plus usual platform staff.
second is Purley, photographing a 59, where again I was told photography isnt allowed without a permit. (i only had my iphone on this occasion, so thought it a bit discriminatory, just because I pointed it at a loco). Again I find it best not to argue, as generally the mindset wont change.
third is Harrow & Wealdstone 2 weeks ago, where after 45 mins or so a polite station officer approached and just asked me to stop taking pictures as its against tfl policy without written permission, all cordial. He said its because too many enthusiasts are putting pictures on youtube.
fourth, same day as Harrow, was Wembley Central, where I was told they close the platforms between trains, which given how narrow it was I suppose is fair enough.
Common thread was TFL managed stations ( I was told at the time), though Purley and Clapham are not.
finally, last week and 57310 on sleepers, I was at Langley (alone) at midnight, I was asked if I was a russian spy, but otherwise didn't care.
I‘m only carrying a Canon SLR camera, usually with my 10 year old little one, who finds being told she is a terrorist a little bit scary, she has an ipad, no tripod or other equipment.
Whilst highlighting the downs, Its worth mentioning the ups.. I turned up Tattenham corner at 1am to see the 73’s on a cold wet night, the station security guard was just pleased to see anyone at all, and we had a 15-20 minute chat about what the fuss was about, and think at the end of it he was a bit more excited about trains.
Similarly several stations have no issues allowing photographers in / out, London Victoria comes to mind, Basingstoke is another, Euston and Kings Cross have never been an issue. During recent engineering works last year the staff at South Croydon let me in to take pictures.
Glasgow Central asked me to sign in, but then went out of his way to radio the staff of my presence and some of the staff came around with me, very welcoming, and even gave me heads up of whats coming / where.
its all a very long way from Bialystok, where turning up at the depot, the foreman promptly gave me a guided tour using an SU45 diesel as our personal shed taxi to go around the place, or Israel, where the driver invited me up to the cab for photographs (where I really wasn't expecting anything like that ).
Either way its a very obvious change from what Ive seen before around London in the last 2-3 months.