Real Gem Of LIRR Conductor Returns Jeweler’s Misplaced Bling

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — A Long Island Rail Road conductor whom officials describe as a “gem” found over $100,000 worth of engagement rings — some with embedded diamonds — that were left behind by a jeweler on his way to Port Washington on Thursday night.

LIRR officials said Assistant Conductor Jonathan Yellowday, who lives in Queens, found the case of jewelry inside a plastic bag while he was working on the 6:11 p.m. train from Penn Station to Port Washington, according to a news release. Yellowday couldn’t believe what he had discovered — it almost didn’t seem real to him.

“I’m like, ‘This can’t be what I think it is,'” he said.

He then knew he needed to get the items to the Metropolitan Transit Authority police as soon as possible, and got on the next train going back to Penn to turn the case in.

The case belonged to Ed Eleasian, who has an office in midtown Manhattan. Eleasian had no idea he had left behind the tray of trinkets; and when he was notified, he and his wife took the LIRR into Penn Station on Friday afternoon to retrieve the gems from the MTA police. There, he was met by Yellowday, as well as LIRR President Phil Eng, and MTA board member and Sheet Metal Air Rail Transportation Union Vice General Chairman Vincent Tessitore for a commendation ceremony.

Eng called Yellowday a hero who saved the day for “for 36 future couples” who will have a good story to tell about the rings.

“I understand the value of these diamond rings, but everything found and returned to the customer is immensely important to them,” Eng stated in the release. “You treated this just as you should have, and it’s another proud day for us at the railroad.”

Eleasian embraced Yellowday, telling him, “Thank you so much.”

Yellowday, who has worked on the railroad for seven years, has seen many lost items during his tenure, but nothing close to the value of this find, according to LIRR officials.

“I could only imagine what you were going through yesterday when you realized that you didn’t have your jewelry,” Yellowday stated in the release. “You know when you get on the 6:11, you’re in good hands.”