AN ELDERLY man has described his joy at being reunited with a £12,000 model train that was stolen from his home.
William Speller, 84, of Kingsbury, was horrified to discover the 6ft long replica train had been taken from him when a neighbour knocked on his door to notify him.
He said: “I was absolutely devastated, I couldn’t believe it.”
Mr Speller made the train himself in 1974 and he regularly takes it to the Harrow and Wembley Society of Model Engineers at Roxbourne Park, in Ruislip, to give it a run on the track.
It can pull up to three coach loads of passengers and is powered by a boiler engine.
Mr Speller reported the theft, which happened overnight on Saturday, March 10, to the police.
The Harrow Observer ran an appeal for readers to keep an eye out for the dark green 70004 Britannia Class replica.
It also has William Shakespeare written in gold on the side.
Mr Speller was delighted when police contacted him last week to let him know it had been found.
Mr Speller said: “It is worth about £12,000 but in terms of its real value, it cannot be replaced. I was so pleased to hear that it had been returned, elated in fact. The reason behind it all is still an absolute mystery.
“I am so thankful to the police, they have done a fantastic job.”
Mr Speller said the train was now being kept somewhere more secure.
A spokesman for Brent Police said: “On March 15, officers from Barnet Borough executed a section 26 Theft Act warrant at an address in Milling Road, Edgware.
“The locomotive was found in the hallway. No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.”
