Man's Collection Taken From Lawn
'LEWISTON MAINE- Gerry Legare wants his trains back. The collection that took him 25 years to build was swiped from his lawn at 391 Webster St. on Sunday, after his ex-wife dropped it off unexpectedly and looters staged a quick, pre-dawn raid. Legare said he'd asked her last week to drop off a list of things from their old house that included 100 bottles of wine - he homebrews - and eight or nine sets of Lionel, Marx and K-Line trains. He lives with his stepfather at the Webster Street address, but spent the weekend in Auburn, taking care of his brother's chickens. His ex made the first delivery at 5:15 a.m., setting bags on the lawn but near the curb. When she called just after 6 to say she'd be coming by with a second load, Legare's stepfather looked outside to find strangers going through Legare's things. Legare left chicken-sitting chores, came home and found nearly all the valuables gone. "I don't think she knew it would happen," he said. "There was one bag they apparently didn't see; it had a caboose and a water tower." He estimated the value of the 40 engines and cars at about $1,000. Each piece was sizable, 0:27 scale, or about the size of half a loaf of bread. In his old home, he had the collection set up on 100 feet of train tracks. He hasn't counted how many bottles of wine are missing. He called police to report the vandalism and made a report Sunday morning. Just maybe people assumed the bags were lawn-sale leftovers, Legare said, but there wasn't the usual sign saying "Free." He's hoping someone brags to someone else, "Look what I found," and the trains turn up. He's put signs out on his lawn asking for their speedy return. "If I get it back, I don't care to press charges. If I find it on eBay, I'll press charges because they knew it was stolen," he said.'
Rob
trainsandmusic wrote: I don't care how mad you are at someone, you don't mess with their trains or any collection that took years to aquire. This is a sad sad story, not for the physical worth of items, but for the sentimental value that is lost. I guess I don't have to tell you guys. That ex knew the outcome of her actions, leaving the items unatended. She obviously wanted them taken, placed so close to the curb. To someone passing by it is garbage. If I walked by and saw trains being thrown out would I not rescue it from the garbage man. I truly hope this man gets his trains back, I really do. Will he? Probably not, but I hope he does.
You make a good point about the ex leaving them close to the curb. That is wrong if this result was her intentions. Curious why the step father didn't stop the people taking the trains or get their lisence plates? Hopefully the strangers just thought they were being thrown out, were trying to save them, and will return them once they find out they weren't being thrown away.
Poor Mr. Legare. At least in upstate New York, where I live, expecially this time of year, if anything is left near or at the curb, it is considered trash. And even though it is illegal to do so, scavengers (not meant to be derogatory) will clean the pile of anything remotely useable or valueable, before the city hauls it away once or twice a week. Neighbors of mine seem to find tons of "stuff" several times each Spring to put at the curb (as the practice is called). My stepson found a perfectly good baseball mitt and bat a few years ago, so now he checks out their "trash" every Spring.
No trains, yet!
I found a near mint post war Lionel 773 and its tender near the curb on a trash day. It was covered with a little wilted salad, but otherwise, fine.
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
jaabat wrote: I found a near mint post war Lionel 773 and its tender near the curb on a trash day. It was covered with a little wilted salad, but otherwise, fine. Jim
You joshing or for real?
My grandfather was a garbage man in New York for a number of years. He found many trains that way.
Sad to hear but true! You don't put stuff near the curb unless you want it to be picked over by scavengers!! How do you think I can afford to throw everything out down here? Answer: scavengers!
What was the ex-wife thinking? What was the step-father thinking too, as he should have brought the stuff in from the curb if he noticed it!
Lee F.
That is a sad story, but I wonder if the ex was trying encourage someone to take it, as a payback. It happens.
A few years ago, I was driving down a residential street in Cleveland, on trash pick up day, and noticed a big box on someone's tree lawn, with 3 rail track sticking out of it. I stopped and looked in the box and saw all kinds of Lionel trains. Knocked on the door and asked the lady if I could give her something for it and she replied " Take it, it's all worthless junk. Nothing works " I got it home and found a ZW, 671 engine and tender, about 20 sections of 0 guage track, a # 30 water tower, about 10 PW freight cars, and a Lionel Amtrak Budd set. I cleaned it all up and the ZW is the one on my layout. Also, some of the cars. Great find.
Chuck
fifedog wrote:jaabat - BTW, how was that salad?
What salad?
Chuck- great find!
Does anyone know if he got any of this back? Its sad
jaabat wrote: fifedog wrote:jaabat - BTW, how was that salad?What salad?
I post an attack dog near my yard's toy train collection.
FJ and G wrote: I post an attack dog near my yard's toy train collection.
BB will take a chunk out of your leg if you try and heeist the geep
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