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Trains, Trolley's, and Vandals.

gearheaddad
So useless and destructive. Just sickening.
My friend is a long time dedicated volunteer at this fascinating museum. An amazing asset run completely by volunteers!
Any help and ANY "SHARES" on FACEBOOK or similar would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for looking,
Ed
Below is the email he sent yesterday:


Dear Friends,

I reach out today to each and everyone of you who love and support our Museum with a heavy heart.
On July 6th, two boys, ages 11 and 13, burglarized the Fox River Trolley Museum.
Over 69 separate pieces of glass were broken, spread across seven cars inside our car barn.
Here are a couple links to different reports:

http://abc7chicago.com/2-boys-ages-11-and-13-charged-after-south-elgin-trolley-museum-burglary/3772508/
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-trolley-museum-south-elgin-vandals-st-0718-story.html

We are all heart broken and scrambling to repair the fleet.
South Elgin Police were instrumental in catching the juveniles that did this horrible destruction.

Contractors have given replacement quotes of between $100,000 to $150,000.

We are so lucky to have many dedicated volunteers, but simply do not have the financial means to acquire materials and supplies, let alone the outside help we will need from professionals.

As the Chief Car Officer, it is my duty to make ready our beloved fleet. Therefore I have started a Go Fund Me Page;
https://www.gofundme.com/fox-river-trolley-museum

It will take plenty of love, hard work, many hands, and a lot of money to heal the wounds our trolleys and the community has suffered.
I have faith in everyone that has been for a ride with us. Everyone that keeps the museum operating. Everyone that gets excited to ride the trolleys, that we will come back stronger and more robust than ever!

Help me to bring everyone together and fund this project!
Please please please share this with everyone that has every enjoyed a ride on our rails! Facebook, Twitter, how ever you choose. Get the word out!

Jeff Bennett
Chief Car Officer
Fox River Trolley Museum Inc.

https://www.foxtrolley.org/
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Comments

26 comments

Date Votes
  • roswellnative
    Sad. I'm sure the kids dad was instrumental in their upbringing...
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  • pulsarnc
    Restitution is in order if found guilty they should pay the cost for the next 20 or 30 years
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  • Wild Turkey
    quote:Originally posted by pulsarnc
    Restitution is in order if found guilty they should pay the cost for the next 20 or 30 years


    Yeah, but that won't put the cars back together.[:(]
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  • gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by pulsarnc
    Restitution is in order if found guilty they should pay the cost for the next 20 or 30 years

    Agreed.
    But, it's a "juvenile case" so identities are not known!
    After hearings etc, the parents/guardians identities are supposed to be made available.
    In the mean time, they need to try and get their trains, cars, and trolleys up and rolling for the season.
    As you can imagine, the court nonsense will take some time!
    Thanks fellas,
    Ed
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  • asop
    Just another good job of parenting and lenient laws[:(!]
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  • gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by asop
    Just another good job of parenting and lenient laws[:(!]

    Most certainly agreed.
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  • spasmcreek
    restitution from the failed parents and punishment for the little animals should be MANDATORY AND SEVERE
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  • gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by spasmcreek
    restitution from the failed parents and punishment for the little animals should be MANDATORY AND SEVERE


    My friend Jeff, is poised and ready to prosecute to the fullest and chase the parents for every nickel they can recover. However, our justice system with minors involved especially is very slow.
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  • droptop
    Thought the town might be close to Chicago,, nope and then ran across this:

    South Elgin was originally called Clintonville,

    That's some bad juju. I'll donate some but why would young kids commit a burglary to vandalize trolly cars? Bored?
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  • gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by droptop
    Thought the town might be close to Chicago,, nope and then ran across this:

    South Elgin was originally called Clintonville,

    That's some bad juju. I'll donate some but why would young kids commit a burglary to vandalize trolly cars? Bored?


    Thanks pal.
    Clintonville. Not surprising huh!
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  • gjshaw
    Have they looked into any of the agency?s that help victims of crimes? There is many more that show up on a google search.

    http://victimsofcrime.org/help-for-crime-victims/get-help-bulletins-for-crime-victims/crime-victim-compensation

    https://www.ovc.gov/about/victimsfund.html
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  • gearheaddad
    quote:Originally posted by gjshaw
    Have they looked into any of the agency?s that help victims of crimes? There is many more that show up on a google search.

    http://victimsofcrime.org/help-for-crime-victims/get-help-bulletins-for-crime-victims/crime-victim-compensation

    https://www.ovc.gov/about/victimsfund.html


    Great idea!
    I'll pass these links on to them.
    Thanks!!
    Ed
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  • kimi
    Very sorry to read about this Ed. I do hope the efforts to repair all of the damage is quickly forthcoming. I know well the negative feelings that such vandalism instills in those who care deeply about a particular subject.
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  • gearheaddad
    Thanks James.
    Jeff Bennett, the author of the letter and guy who started the "gofundme" page is a great friend of mine. He works 20-30 hours a week at that museum as a volunteer!
    I hope they raise the funds needed. So far the campaign has been going well! Thank you to everyone!
    It's a cool place. They do WW2 re enactments with Nazi trains and "French people" checking papers etc, Hobo depression era rides, Christmas and Ghost Halloween trains into a forest preserve and back. It's a very cool museum, and this is the very first time they have ever asked the public for donations.
    Thanks again to everyone for looking. I appreciate all the support,
    Ed
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  • kimi
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    Thanks James.
    Jeff Bennett, the author of the letter and guy who started the "gofundme" page is a great friend of mine. He works 20-30 hours a week at that museum as a volunteer!
    I hope they raise the funds needed. So far the campaign has been going well! Thank you to everyone!
    It's a cool place. They do WW2 re enactments with Nazi trains and "French people" checking papers etc, Hobo depression era rides, Christmas and Ghost Halloween trains into a forest preserve and back. It's a very cool museum, and this is the very first time they have ever asked the public for donations.
    Thanks again to everyone for looking. I appreciate all the support,
    Ed




    Sounds like a great cause, ED. Donation made.
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  • gearheaddad
    Thank you James.
    I truly mean it. You and Barbara are 2 of the finest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
    I joke to my wife and friends about my time in Cody with my "internet friend". James, you're my first![;)]
    My wife is jealous and so disappointed she did not get the chance to meet you two.
    The part of the vandalism that really hurts is the amount of obsolete bulbs and glass parts that were destroyed with virtually no way to replace them!
    There oldest car is from, I believe about 1902. So, I'm sure you can imagine the headaches......
    Thank you again my friend.
    And thank you to everyone that has read and followed this thread. It used to be said, "you meet the nicest people on a Honda" I believe you meet the nicest people around guns.......Ed
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  • kimi
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    Thank you James.
    I truly mean it. You and Barbara are 2 of the finest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
    I joke to my wife and friends about my time in Cody with my "internet friend". James, you're my first![;)]
    My wife is jealous and so disappointed she did not get the chance to meet you two.
    The part of the vandalism that really hurts is the amount of obsolete bulbs and glass parts that were destroyed with virtually no way to replace them!
    There oldest car is from, I believe about 1902. So, I'm sure you can imagine the headaches......
    Thank you again my friend.
    And thank you to everyone that has read and followed this thread. It used to be said, "you meet the nicest people on a Honda" I believe you meet the nicest people around guns.......Ed



    [:)]

    You're very welcome Ed!

    Thank you for the most kind comments. Barb and I feel the same about you and your kin that we were fortunate enough to meet, which makes for some great memories! Hopefully we'll see each other again and meet your wife as well!

    The loss of the bulbs and glass parts that are obsolete is truly sad, but who knows what the future holds here...hope goes a long way, and no telling what will turn up on down the road a piece. With that in mind, We'll be watching the success of the fundraising goal as it progresses and hoping for the best.


    I have to agree that you do meet the nicest people around guns!!!!!! (They are eating brunch right now I think!!!!!!! But they'll be back!!!! To check in: https://www.gofundme.com/fox-river-trolley-museum ) [;)]
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  • gearheaddad
    18000.00 and climbing!!
    So wonderful to see!
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  • kimi
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    18000.00 and climbing!!
    So wonderful to see!


    It is wonderful to see! I need to send an email today to a couple of cousins that do Facebook, and make a post on my old HS website and ask them to help spread the news. [:)]

    I see a couple of heavy hitters checked in last night!
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  • gearheaddad
    Thank you James.
    And please thank your cousins for me.
    Take care
    Ed
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  • kimi
    Your very welcome, Ed! Hope it helps!

    Have a great day!
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  • kimi
    Your very welcome, Ed! Hope it helps!

    Have a great day!
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  • tapwater
    ..I'll do what I can my friend. Whether it's vintage trains
    or anything to do with them I'm eternally grateful that some-
    one else cares about and for them. Best of luck to you all.
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  • tapwater
    ..It's not PC, but I just have to ask...of what race
    were the vandals? I'll say no more on the subject, but
    I'm curious and have no preconceived notions.
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  • mrmike08075
    Does seem that every few years some slacker kids break into the lot and break out school bus windows...

    Never thought trolleys or trains would get hit - why???

    Mike
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  • gearheaddad
    No information about the vandals since they're minors.
    Once convicted, then suits can be filed against the parents/guardians.
    So, I couldn't tell you race or anything else.
    The bright side is, OVER $21,000.00 has been donated on Gofundme, and they have received some very healthy donations directly!!
    Along with many many smaller contributions over the weekend while they held a special open house.

    Thank you to this fine Gun Broker community, I truly appreciate your kindness and generosity, and I know the Trolley Museum does too.
    Ed
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