As someone that just turned 20 and is an active college student, I can honestly say that being a "railfan" is as important to me now than at any other point in my life thus far. With all the uncertainty ahead in terms of academics, personal responsibilities, and the world in general, it is refreshing to head trackside to enjoy the sights and sounds of modern railroading.
Railroad photography captivated me at a young age, where I eventually began taking my own videos and pictures (shameless plug 😁 : [www.youtube.com]). See how easy it is to share my entire portfolio with the world? That's certainly a wonderful part of technology!
Furthermore, the widespread availability of DVD's (Pentrex, Charles Smiley, etc) is valued greatly by people my age, mainly because we missed the heyday of the WP, SP, and ATSF. I cherish my books and magazines penned by photographers and historians like Dorn, Benson, and Stein.
Although many train/hobby stores are devoid of many young people, just realize that we exist. Quite frankly, there may be more young people in the railroad hobby now than ever before, considering many of us were graduates of the "Thomas Revolution". For me at least, this is a hobby that will be a part of me for the rest of my life.

-Nick Wolters

Dick Dorn Wrote:
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> I have to disagree with you on the railfan
> photography front. Some of the best and most
> creative photography work is being done by younger
> railfans in their 20's and 30's. I see it all the
> time and have numerous friends in this group. If I
> want to learn something new or have questions
> about digital photography I do not go to guys my
> age, 70. I have learned a good deal from these
> younger shooters and they have also been
> inspirational as well. It is the younger
> generation who is pushing digital railroad
> photography to new and exciting fronts. I am
> seeing all kinds of neat photos that were not
> possible with film, especially in night shooting.
> Many of the guys my age have digital cameras but
> simply do the same thing they did with a film
> camera. There are a few guys my age who are doing
> some really neat shooting with digital but not
> many. If Steinheimer were alive he would be super
> excited about the creativity possible with digital
> photography. It has opened up a whole new world
> and the younger guys are the ones who are doing
> it. Too many of the guys my age by into the
> bullshit story that everything has gone to crap.
> It's not the color of a locomotive that makes a
> good photo, it's everything else in the photo that
> really matters. I am glad I have younger friends
> who are leading the way in the age of digital
> railroad photography.
> Dick Dorn