There's actually a whole sub-genre of science fiction that's considered "steam punk". These gadgets are sort of an off-shoot from that.

I've been reluctant to encourage this by borrowing any of the Japanimation cartoons with this theme, but I might do it if I don't think the violence will warp his little sister, who doesn't need any more encouragement in the martial arts.
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(Of course, if you have history, you don't need comic books. The real Victorians were pretty adventurous in their use of steam power. Few people know that the Brits had steam-powered bus service in operation on the roads in 1848, before their railroad network was mature, and 50 years before the Germans and French invented cars. Too bad they threw that technological lead away.)

The only test population I have to go by is my son Erik, who has at least a slight fondness for this sort of thing. Erik expresses only polite interest in PM 1225 and railroading, but he happily builds fanciful Victorian-style steam-powered science-fiction devices out of Lego parts. I've been reluctant to encourage this by borrowing any of the Japanimation cartoons with this theme, but I might do it if I don't think the violence will warp his little sister, who doesn't need any more encouragement in the martial arts.

Might this be another sector of the population that railway and industrial preservation can reach out to? Another way to bring in younger folks with no recollection of these things growing up?

I’m on the middle-younger side of the steam community and I know we all need to encourage new blood. I’ve been a volunteer in the Engine Department of the S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien for 8 years now http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Jeremiah_O'Brien
and nowhere is the need for the next generation to step up and learn the art of steam more apparent. (we sadly just had another amazing crew member recently pass)

New interest in steam is a great thing, but we all understand the level of respect and attention to detail one needs when working with explosive equipment. No one who volunteers with KSW is aloud near our boilers without first taking the Steam Safety Class @ the Roots of Motive Power up in Willits, CA. They have to demonstrate full competency, trust, and respect, BEFORE they are left alone with any boilers or equipment. Additionally every fire-tube boiler that KSW operates has a current Cal OSHA permit. Everyone is required to read the full “Medina Tragedy” report, discuss it, and understand why it's so important to not “half ass” ANYTHING with a steam boiler. KSW will not become the next studied tragedy on my watch.

What concerns me as this whole “Steampunk” thing has started to gain “traction” (pun intended) is an increasing number of backyard warriors with “boilers” and not what I would consider a comfortable level of respect for what they’re doing. I know of projects out there right now that I wouldn’t get anywhere near. I’m worried about the guy down the street just slapping something together, putting on a funny hat, and killing somebody.

I’m encouraged when I talk to many of you about how our steam community, “old school” if you will, has a very high level of commitment to steam safety. We owe it to our passion (or sickness if you prefer) to help others outside of our community appreciate what they’re getting themselves into and the level of commitment they need to have. When a steam accident happens, it hurts us all regardless of what hat you ware.

You should go and rent the Japanese anime movie "Steamboy". This is a film by Yamizaki (sic?) who has numerous other films (distributed by Disney) that contain railroads and assorted interesting steampunk technology elements.