Mark, Tony, I'm not talking about one Facebook group, I'm talking about 27 groups that I'm part of. NONE are specific to an era, they are all general groups such as HO scale, N scale, weathering, NMRA, etc. It's NOT about likes, it's about showing their layouts, their trains, buildings, but mostly about helping everybody. It's all about model railroading, techniques, electronics, etc..
I'm also part of a few Google groups, Blogs, live hangouts and other forums. YES i do spend a lot of time on research on the net such as how to's, ideas and discussions. That is why I can easily say what I've said.
I went on my first layout tour about a month ago, there was 4 layouts added to the tour, so the hobby is growing and out of the 12, there was only 1 steam.
In one of my live hangout group, there are 2 narrow gauge, 1 steam and 46 diesel people.
Mark, I'm modeling the 70's and it was decided very early that I would have a steam for excursions and like you, a steam needs to be part of a layout. Personally I grew up without trains as a kid and never been on a train until 3 years ago (except when I was 2, but I don't remember). Modeling steam would of been nice, but it would of demanded lots of research and questions and I would of been very restricted on my locomotives and freight (modeling CP).
Tony, I must disagree, yes people click like, but all those that post are sharing information that will help, I know it does for me. I will ask questions on something that is of interest. I posted on 3 groups (buildings, HO scale, NMRA) my pictures of the stair case, yes I had over 150 likes, but I also had over 12 questions of how's and what. For your info, there are very few steam groups. I did a search and found 3 and 2 of them asks their members if they should change their names, such as removing "era" and the other removing "steam". There are plenty of general group and all era's are present.
All era's will never die, but as years go by, the steam era is losing steam and in 30 years from now, the transition era will do the same and who know, in 60 years from now, the diesel era as we know it will do the same. Just look at all the electronics being introduce to the hobby, like JMRI, DCC++, Arduino, RasberryPI, etc. DC will keep existing as long as the older generation keeps it alive, but that era is also fading.
I think the younger generation are more involved on social media than forums. So if all we do is post in forums, we are missing out on some really nice stuff out there. One of the reasons I joined the social media for the hobby is that I can get answers much faster than in forums.
PS. Nothing against steam, if I'm to build a diorama one day, it will be N scale and steam.