Need a new way to relax? Try Train Healing.

Whether it's spending time playing the latest video games or concentrating on the next part of your model railroad, at times we all need something to take our minds off the real world and relax, for just a moment. Railfans have taken great pleasure over the decades using trains and train travel to wind down from the day job or other domestic stresses and even as the digital age begins to really take hold, railways can still play a part in our much-cherished downtime.

YouTube is arguably the most popular format for allowing railfans to enjoy the hobby digitally. In recent articles we have featured both railfan content, uploaded as recorded footage of the latest spots, as well as live streaming, which can bring a small part of the world into homes thousands of miles away. But another phenomenon is quickly gaining traction on YouTube; Train Healing.

Train Healing videos are part of a series set up by Rail Japan Story who have begun to grow on social media by sharing high definition 4K footage of the dazzling array of trains in urban Japan. But unlike typical railfan videos, these are extended beyond 30 minutes and are accompanied by calming, copyright-free music to provide something similar to the incredibly popular lo-fi study beat videos that help people relax the world over.

Much of the footage is taken by the Rail Japan Story team in inner-city Tokyo. Our other recent piece on Japanese railways details the kinds of services seen in this part of the world, but with Train Healing, spotting numbers and understanding routes take a backseat. Here, the gentle movement of the trains in and out of the city, over and under bridges and through stations, seems to marry the music perfectly and creates a totally tranquil experience that both railfans and casual viewers can enjoy. The scenery has as much to do with the video as the trains. A Shinkansen service shoots out of Tokyo. Photo: Rail Japan Story

A number of high-quality background Train Healing videos are already available to view, but more are on the way. In particular those at Rail Japan Story are keen to show the beauty of nature in Japan and with a network of rural, mountainous and coastal routes, there's plenty to make of the trains outside of Japanese cities. For railfans specifically, there are also a number of Train Watching videos on the channel that aim to show the different types of locomotives and consists that run throughout the country. One of the current uploads even shows a Japanese steam locomotive at the Oigawa Railway.

In time, Rail Japan Story hopes to add more to a dedicated channel for Train Healing videos and have researchers study the effects that this kind of YouTube content can have on those looking to get away from the stresses and strains that modern life can create. They'd also like to work with various railway companies. In the meantime, their stunning 4K footage can be viewed over on their channel and they also share content through their Twitter account.

If you'd like to submit content to We Are Railfans, or share your Railfan story - get in touch via the submission form, or via social media; Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.