About Me
My name is Ryan Casey, I’m 29 years old, and have always had a lifelong passion and ambition for trains and traveling. For over twenty one years, my father and I would go to many different places across the United States, parts of Canada, and most recently, the British Isles. From the time I was 5 years old, and after my first trip to Steamtown National Historic Site, I was hooked on every aspect of railroading. I even spent a decade reading books about trains and railroad lines around the world. Such as the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia, the Channel Tunnel in between the United Kingdom and France, and the First Transcontinental Railroad of the United States to name a few. In addition to the railroads, I’m also a history and geography buff, which makes my hobby much more interesting. I have a great sense of historical perspective when I see a train go by, or find an abandoned station or section of any particular rail line. For instance, the turntable pit of the old Cork and Muskerry Light Railway right by the Blarney Castle entrance in Ireland is one such place that comes to mind.
In addition to traveling, I also enjoyed editing videos, and once hosted the “RCdash9 Videos” YouTube Channel. I created a new channel exclusively for Empire Of Rails, and will post new videos from my more recent trips, when time and availability permits. In recent years, the video aspect has become mostly secondary to my blog posts on here, and act as a journal. If you saw my home page, I have added more outlets to expand my presence. Soundcloud, where you will find my better audio narrations, and Flickr to showcase newer pictures and be able to show you things that don’t make my posts. See “Model Railroad Info” for more about my history of model railroading. See “Video Library Info” to learn about my YouTubing years.
Through this site on WordPress, I hope to seek others who share my interests in the things I write about. Be it you’re single, looking for friends, or just want something to read about and be interested. I’m always looking forward to hearing new stories and seeing new pictures of your experiences on a particular topic, such as Amtrak trips.
Etiquitte: If you ever meet me in person please note the following points:
1. When meeting me in person, you can call me Ryan. But if you call me by another name, I won’t respond.
2. I know lots of things about trains, but not everything. If there’s anything that I don’t know, it isn’t worth knowing.
3. Hand shakes, fist bumps, and elbow bumps are good, but absolutely no other physical contact is encouraged, unless I initiate it. Especially with COVID-19 going around, and the not-so-distant post pandemic years to come.
4. Please do not ask questions pertaining to when or what article or project I’m going to do next. I choose topics and trips as I please. Whatever I have on my mind, and my time, is what you read.
5. Please do not share or impose your political views with me in person. I only talk about that with people who are close to me, not strangers.
6. Please do not ask for autographs, take selfies or live-stream me on your personal social media pages without my knowing or permission. I like to keep a low profile.
7. Please do not ask me personally about how to join a volunteer railroad organization or get a shop tour. I have a Volunteer Railroader Tips page explaining what that’s really like.
8. There are more important things than fame and fortune. This entire website is created purely from my passion, which means I do not accept solicitations or deals for monetary gain.
9. Please use the Contact Us page, BEFORE using the contact form on the homepage.
© Empire Of Rails 2023