Funny, I've railfanned all over this country for 40+ years, in areas urban and rural, and none of what you complain about above has ever happened to me. Maybe being observant and using a little common sense is the key. I know trains are often found in bad areas, and there are places I've decided not to go, but mostly I've gone out and shot what I wanted to. Just where have you personally gone to watch/photograph trains and had these problems?