Apparently, railfanning (or what the Brits call “trainspotting”) has been described in that country as a way to practice mindfulness. Who knew?
http://cprailmmsub.blogspot.ca/2016/03/the-zen-of-railfanning.html
John Longhurst, Winnipeg
I’ve read about their “mindfulness” in the BBC recently where the Flying Scottsman (recently restored steam engine) had to stop because the railfans on the tracks and in danger of being hit. [:S]
It just goes to show there are daft people everywhere in spite of whatever nifty terms are used to describe themselves with. Nevermind my wife calls me dafty.
I have also visited with a few railfan Brits in Sunderland with my wife (an UK ex-patriot) and many of them were US fans having been over here railfanning. UK appears to have a much higher per capita of railfans and modelers than the US.
Sitting trackside on a lawn chair on a hot summer day waiting for a train which the scanner suggests is a good hour away and all you hear is the buzz of cicadas and the chatter of birds may well be an excellent example of mindfulness.
Chasing Milwaukee Road 261 through small towns at embarassing speeds as part of an insane que of wild eyed foamers, some of whom seem to have skipped their meds that day?
Not so mindful.
Dave Nelson
Sometimes we just sit in Cajon Pass at Mormon Rocks and watch the parade of trains go by. It’s a wonderful way to spend a beautiful spring day like today.
j…
My enjoyment is reading a Western novel between trains or the latest issue of MR and Trains Magazine in the early morning cool(from 6-11am) while enjoying a cup of coffee.The chirping of birds is enjoyed too especially the whip-poor-will or a Robin.
I enjoy railfanning for a number of reasons. First, my wife likes it as well. So it’s something we both enjoy & can do together. Second, we usually go to our favorite spot on a busy NS mainline. Not only lots of trains, but lots of scanner chatter from a couple of different railroads. And finally, there are a couple of fellows who railfan in the same area & I enjoy our conversations. So it’s an activity which affords me relaxation as well as the fact that I’m always seeing something new, or learning something new.