Uniqueness

I'd like to follow up on CJ's observations. I think the fact that mainstream railroading is fading into the background is a positive thing for the rail tourist industry. People are attracted to unique things.
As an example in the 50's narrow gauge was dying fast. Bob Richardson and others led a crusade to save as much as possible. Now we can go look at RGS #20, all the geese (in one place or another), #346, #318 (someday), the D&S, the C&TS etc. However at the same time standard gauge steam was disappearing too. Pick your favorite standard gauge engine class on any RR and it's all but gone . The thing is that in the 50's the narrow gauge was unique and saved standard steam was so common that nobody cared that it was dissappearing. They were, if anything, more interested in the "newfangled diesels".
Today an operating steam engines / railroads are very unique so I would expect that they would draw a crowd based on that alone. One example is the Georgetown Loop which was rebuilt. To do this required a change in the plans for I 70 to make room for the rebuilt railroad. As another example of non-railfan interest in railroads you can search down a few threads for the stories about state patrol officers forgiving all sorts of traffic infractions just so they could join the pack of railfans trying to get a photo of an operating steam engine.
I think the interest is there, just not fully realized. Marketing is the key, the trick is to present the railroads as providing something unique to do on a summer day.