Earl's term was meant to be pejorative and probably represents a very small proportion of the people on charters. The majority would like their photos to be as close to the way it was for the enjoyment of capturing a bit of the past. Think reenactors. People dressing up in Civil War uniforms are not trying to fool anyone, but most reenactors try as hard as they can to be authentic in their dress and equipment. For many the fun is the time spent in encampments, meeting up with friends and fellow travelers. Ditto for riding a chartered freight. Most folks ride in the gons, enjoying the scenery and the camaraderie. The flood of excellent #18 photos that have appeared on this and other forums attests to the appeal of well staged photos and the fun of trying to get as close to the way back machine as possible.
Michael Allen