I'll amplify what Dick said, and add that the old guard is unable to relate to the upcoming generation. NRHS membership is down (some of which is self-inflicted) as the younger railfans are going digital and have no time for hanging out at old-line train shops.

This situation occurs in other hobby communities. In the aviation hobby, for instance, the World Airline Historical Society has lost members over the last few decades and recently stopped printing and mailing its magazine, "The Captain's Log" due to its utter inability to attract new blood. See [www.airliners.net]

But is the hobby dying? NO. See [airwaysmag.com]

The same thing is happening with railfanning. All the younger fans are on the 'net.