The Toledo, Lake Erie and Western Railway and Museum, Inc. has recently been informed that those notoriously clever and humorous Bailey Train Bandits are back on the loose.

During the months of October and November 2001, these Bandits boarded and robbed TLEW's Halloween excursion trains. Stopping the trains dead in their tracks, they usually climbed on board the train on the last coach, and then took conductors and passengers hostage as they slowly made their way toward the leading coach where TLEW's ticket revenue safe is located. Then they blew up the safe stealing its entire contents. As they departed from the train they handed out gold-dollar chocolate candies to the passengers in an attempt to expedite their departure without incident. TLEW is relieved to report that no passengers have ever been hurt or injured by the bandits.

It's rumored that the bandits smuggled their stolen goods to Malinta, OH where they illegally traded it for more gold-dollar chocolate candies in the back room of the Malinta General Store. To this day this witty operation is still under investigation.

The Bailey Bandits repeated this crime for four weekends until this unknown courageous young man (see picture on right) stood up and apprehended the villains. The villains were then turned over to the authorities for trial.

Two weeks ago, while awaiting trial in a Waterville, Ohio jail cell, the clever bandits distracted Authorities for hours with a box of free coffee coupons from Dunkin' Donuts. They escaped completely undetected. Two days later an anonymous phone call informed authorities that the bandits were spotted in their old hide-out, the deserted C&O restaurant located in Bailey, Ohio. Before authorities could guzzle their coffee and donuts and apprehend the bandits, they fled deep into the woods between Bailey and Grand Rapids, Ohio.

TLEW officials believe they spotted the Bailey Train Bandits held up in John Lovett's 185 year-old log cabin. This cabin is hidden deep in the woods and is only accessible by rail or by long journey by foot. This has conveniently deterred authorities from finding the bandits. TLEW officials speculate that the Bandits sleep during the day and perform their devious operations late at night. Therefore TLEW daily excursion trains are deemed safe. However TLEW warns that the bandits may rob its next Presidential Train Ride with Abe Lincoln as it is rumored that they are quickly running out of gold-dollar chocolate candies.

Check this page frequently for future announcements regarding TLEW's scheduled train robberies.

TLEW's next train robberies are being scheduled for our 2005 season. Should the Bailey Train Bandits board these trains TLEW warns passengers to remain in their seats and enjoy the extra fun and excitement.