Don't let the attitudes here turn you away from volunteering; yes, you'll find egotistical jerks involved with quite a few projects, but you'll also come across projects where this sort of BS isn't tolerated very much, if at all (that's true of most organizations, BTW, not just the ones restoring or operating vintage railroad equipment).

Keep in mind, too, that some of the guys here who do run excursions often have to put up with foamer types who, quite frankly, are the type that you'd probably want to see hanging from a short noose after a very short while; putting up with idiots like that does tend to give one a bad attitude if one isn't careful not to let it get under one's skin (been there, done that, contrary to what some folks here who do not know me at all may believe). (And no, Drew, I do not consider you to be one of those "foamer types"!)

It may take a while, depending on where you live, but if you look carefully and ask around enough, you'll find a project where egotism and inconsiderate jerks aren't welcome; don't let what you see at some forum turn you away.