In general, I have always found other railfans more than willing to share information in person or on the Internet. Converesely, I hope other railfans have found me to be helpful.

Having said that, I've read a lot of mean-spirited comments on railfan internet sites. I feel
that is more a reflection of Internet "culture" than on railfans as I've read many ignorant and obnoxious posts on current events/news websites, too.

Others can debate whether the Internet is a negative or positive for the hobby, but it certainly has made information available much more quickly and for a wider audience on unusual movements, locomotives of interest, excursions and good locations for railfanning.

I think the worst trend for the hobby is the decline of local hobby shops, particularly in Downtown locations. I got into the hobby through model railroading and lament that so many hobby shops are no longer around.

I've been railfanning since 1972. Many things have changed and others have stayed the same. Here are examples of one of each:

In 1973 or 1974, I went out with the Penn State Model Railroad Club to visit the East Broad Top. At the time, I really wasn't into steam and I was more interested in the Penn Central diesels we saw come through on the nearby ex-PRR main line. Fast forward to 2011, on a trip to Central PA, I went out of my way to visit the East Broad Top during the Fall Spectacular just to see some steam.

In the early 1970s, the Pennsylvania rail scene was dominated by black and white locomotives. Today, the Pennsylvania rail scene continues to be dominated by a bunch of locomotives painted black and white.

Concluding on a high note, in 1972, Model Railroad had a beautiful color centerspread drawing of an SP GS4 Daylight locomotive. I never dreamed that 39 years later I would travel out to Washington State to ride behind such a locomotive. That was definitely a change for the better!