Seeing Europe in a Different Light : Photo contest, scavenger hunt gives students a chance to focus on unusual people and places.

Europe-bound students are being offered an opportunity to compete in an educational scavenger hunt and photography contest, sponsored by American Express Travellers Cheques, Rail Europe and the College Connection.

The “Rail Europe Adventure” is designed to enhance the educational value of European travel through an entertaining competition.

The incentive for students is a grand-prize package that includes an around-the-world airline ticket and two months of free accommodations at any youth hostel in the world. Other prizes include free air travel, American Express traveler’s checks and first-class Eurailpasses.

Here’s how it works:

When students register, they receive a treasure map, a list of clues and a Rail Europe T-shirt.

There are 20 different landmarks that can be found using the maps and the clues. Students must locate four of them and photograph them, or have someone else photograph them with the landmarks. It could be a famous site or something offbeat, such as finding six blonds (male or female) in a couchette in a Scandinavian train, or kissing a statue in a Belgian statue garden.

“The Rail Europe Adventure is designed to offer the student traveler a view of Europe that he or she might otherwise miss in a whirlwind tour of the Continent,” says Bernard Frelat, president of Rail Europe, Inc. “The camera encourages the traveler to pay attention to unexpected details and to see Europe in a different light.”

To compete in the photography contest, you must submit a photo of the most humorous or unusual event you encounter during your rail travel. The photos must feature trains, and they’ll be judged for clarity, composition and execution.

Participating students are also encouraged to wear their special T-shirts during their trips, especially when they will be near American Express offices. Special T-shirt spotters will be awarding $20 in traveler’s checks for those so attired, and if the person is also carrying some of the company’s traveler’s checks, the prize will be doubled.

To register for the contest, students should contact “Rail Europe Adventure,” The College Connection, 19 Newtown Turnpike, Westport, Conn. 06880, (203) 847-2200.

Any traveler heading off on his or her first European rail adventure should keep these points in mind:

--Cities can have more than one rail station (Paris has five), so be sure that you are heading to the right station for the train you want.

--Try to schedule your arrival in each new city early in the day so that you’ll have a good selection of accommodations and you won’t have to find your way in the dark.

--You can save a night’s accommodation by taking an overnight train, or you can travel overnight and pay about $20 extra for a more comfortable sleep berth in a couchette (shared by four to six men and women).

--Be sure that you climb into the right car, especially if you plan to nap. A train can have different cars that will eventually go to different cities, so check the plaque beside the door before you board.

--Carry your money, traveler’s checks, tickets and passport in a money pouch under your clothing, especially if you are going to nap. If you have a camera, make sure that you have a place you can safely lock it away.

The train is a terrific place to meet local residents and other young travelers. Unfortunately, it can also be a good place for some unscrupulous people to meet you. Passengers should be cautious and guard their belongings.