I've long been of the opinion that the fraternity of serious steam locomotive lovers has been shrinking for years as those who knew steam in their childhoods ( born not later that around 1940 +/-) have been passing away and not being replaced in equal numbers by newbies.

I'm beginning to think that maybe I'm wrong based upon the very strong market reception to the " In Cab" experiences on the 611 during her visitation at the Strasburg RR.

They just added a 4th. day of " In Cab" experiences offering and that's already nearly sold out. I learned a long time ago that the market place is never wrong and the fact that nearly $ 100,000 has been spent for 4 days of 30 minute guest stints in the 611 certainly says that there are lots of steam lovers out there.

Perhaps it's time to rethink it ??

Ross Rowland

The internet has changed the world. If a kid wanted to ride a train in the late 80’s early 90’s - his parents had to know of such a place. The famous lines like Durango & Silverton would be mentioned on a PBS special but that’s about it. We would visit railroad museums on vacation but those museums didn’t have operating trains and didn’t advertise other places to visit.

Now... anyone can do a few internet searches and find out just how many steam operations exist. The internet algorithms will even tell people who “like” and “follow” particular engines when those engines will operate and how to get tickets.

Definitely time to re-think, Mr. Rowland. There are plenty of younger people (say 20-50 year olds, and even younger) travelling far and wide to photograph and record steam and posting their videos for others to enjoy on youtube, and at these events as you mention. I'm 42 and have loved steam trains since childhood, and have travelled to as many tourist lines within driving distance of my home in NJ as I could to see and ride behind steam, and have purchased many video and sound recordings to get some sense of what I can't experience in person. I know there are many others like me in this age bracket.

John Rembis

I'm 44 and I was bitten by the steam bug when I was about 12. I was with my uncle when we saw smoke and went to investigate and there was N&W 1218 just in from an excursion. The engineer (who I later learned to be Robert Claytor himself) gave us the grand tour and I got to go in the cab. I've been a die hard steam fan ever since. For me it's not so much about history but just the size, sound, smell....the whole impression of the thing that draws me in.

I've been preaching for years that if you want young steam enthusiasts then let them get up close and personal with the engine and teach them the facts and how they relate to the present. Too many operations spend too much time teaching a history lesson. That's important but something that sounds like a museum or school lesson isn't going to draw the younger crowd in. I also attend steam tractor shows that seem to be growing in popularity with a lot of younger people getting involved. Those machines have been removed from daily life by a least a generation longer than the steam locomotive. What are they doing differently?? Only thing I can think of is that you can get closer, talk to the owners and see them doing work. Very different experience than riding in an enclosed coach. That could also explain why these EXPENSIVE cab experience and hostling tours seem to sell like hot cakes.

I agree with BM765’s last statement. Our hands-on Throttle Time program has been a big hit (and it’s a lowly diesel) with everyone in every demographic you could consider. It also brings in new members.

One of the things that did it for me happened not long after N & W 475 first went into service at Strasburg. My Dad and I were there after the engine had just been put away and I asked one of the crew members near the engine house something about 475, and he brought me into the engine house, and let me go up into the cab of a still hot and in steam 475 and look around. Although I thanked him that day I wish I knew who he was so I could thank him again. Around the same time, a high speed ride behind 2102 on the Blue Mountain and Reading and, on the same day, a ride in the open car just feet from WK & S #65's smokebox were some of the experiences that sealed the deal.

John

I have found a major boost to young railfans - and steam fans - over the past 20 years has been the widespread availability of videos on sites such as YouTube. Many young railfans - even kids - know about engines such as the SP 4449 or the UP Big Boy via YouTube, even if they have never seen them in person. And their knowledge of these engines can be quite in-depth.

Agreed 100%. I wish railroad’s that ran steam understood that each steam locomotive they operate is it’s own “brand” and has its own fan base for a wide variety of reasons.

I'm 32 I always watch steam locomotive videos on Youtube, I collected books, DVDs, model trains etc. I got hooked on steam trains and trains in general by watching Thomas The Tank Engine going up in the 90s and then watched the real ones. I remember when I was 11 or 12 when my family went to Steamtown I got into the cab of number 26 and blew the whistle and loved it. I love Steam If I could join a team to get into preservation but time and money prevents me from doing so. I would love to start a non-profit organization to do a new build of a ERIE K2 pacific with all the necessary design changes to make it more maintenance friendly and easier to insure. I know the questions so don't ask.

Don't neglect the effect that train sims have had on younger folks too.

World of Tanks and War Thunder have both contributed incredibly to the AFV preservation world.

Something to think about with this: in the past having a model of a steam locomotive and somewhere to "play with it" required significant cash and time investments.

Now? Kids can download tons of stuff for free for Trainz and I'm pretty sure Train Sim World is now included in the Xbox Live Game Pass. The barriers for entry have gotten MUCH lower now.

Yes, reconsider! One of my other hobbies is model T Fords. Very few are alive today who remember when they were commonly found on the road, and while the number of enthusiasts has declined, there are still many folks interested and restoring them, some of them starting out now still in high school!
The end is not yet here, although some current social changes do seem ominous!

Rail camp is a great way to introduce the younger and slightly older generation to the inside and interesting world of steam locomotive restoration, maintenance, and operation. Having been an instructor for 6 rail camp events at our facility, it's amazing how many, not all, many, have become involved with steam preservation and railroad operation, both on the museum and commercial levels. My introduction to the steam restoration experience was when I attended a rail camp of sorts for adults. This had a huge impact on my possible future involvement in the steam restoration world by letting me see and feel the behind the scenes activities involved in this normally unseen side of Steam Preservation!

I'll second the rail camp experience. I went to the one at the Nevada Northern Railway in 2007. The mechanical work was well beyond my understanding at the time, but I took a keen interest in operations that led to about a decade (and counting) of working in operations for various companies. I'd really like to work on steam, but the fact that so many of the places that run steam are so rural and remote from bigger cities is a turn off for me. I guess I'll run steam after I'm done shuffling cars on a shortline!

Mr. Rowland, you and I actually met at New Hope last year. I was working as a trainman behind 40, and you ran her a few times.

You'd be surprised by how many people my age (21) there were working there who were into steam as much as you or I. Quite a few of them also volunteered for Black River, and had worked on their 60.

Definitely time for a rethink. There are plenty of young steam enthusiasts out there. Hell, I hadn't even seen a true mainline excursion until two years ago, but now I'm planning whole vacations around this stuff.

Son is 31 and if we lived closer to a steam facility he’d be there. Knowing where to look for information really is the key; when he was a very young toddler, we went by a magazine rack and he pointed and yelled “Trains!” Sure enough, it was Trains Magazine. (He still has the much-handled remnants of that issue somewhere.)

From that magazine, we found the Ohio Central and went up for a ride, landing there on a boiler wash day so Mary invited us back when steam was up. We went back a couple of weeks later and kid was commenting:”There are tracks. They have many diesels...” then he saw that unmistakable smoke plume. “They have a steam engine!”

Shortly after, we stumbled onto CompuServe’s TrainNet and found ourselves with the keys to the kingdom, as it were. Now, he’d probably find the info on the net first. That’s all good because it can bring in a wider audience, and every cab tour and ticket is more fuel for our big iron horses even if not everyone will be pulled in, as Gabe says, “hook, line, sinker, rod, reel and boat.”