LISLAND RAIL Road NGO assistant conductor Jonathan Yellowday received a commendation and 15 minutes of fame in the New York media market for discovering – and promptly delivering – a ring case containing 36 demi -diamond mounts valued at $ 107,000.

A Manhattan Diamond District jeweler lost the rings on his way home to Long Island on the Port Washington Line. The precious deal was to take the trip with him because he wanted to show a variety of popular styles to a niece who is planning to get engaged.

But during the trip, the jeweler was distracted when he met a friend. He lost track of time and was surprised when the train came to a stop. He rushed through the train doors just before they closed, but left behind a plastic bag containing his ring case.

The 6:11 a.m. train Thursday night was Yellowday, who noticed the bag unattended as the train reached its final stop. He retrieved the bag and brought it to his compartment on the train.

“I had to do a double take because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Yellowday told the New York Daily News. “I actually thought they were wrong until I saw the price tags.”

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Even though Yellowday was at the end of his shift and the LIRR New York headquarters was 55 minutes away, the deputy chief decided the best thing to do was to hand deliver the diamond ring case to the police of the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority). same night.

“I found a cell phone and a wallet here and there, but none of it,” said the eight-year LIRR veteran. “I said I personally wanted to hand it over to the MTA police to make sure it didn’t get lost in transit. I haven’t thought twice about it. It’s someone’s livelihood in this box.

The jeweler didn’t realize he had left his ring case until Friday morning.

“I started to search the house. I thought I brought it home, ”he told NBC News. “I started to retrace my steps and remembered that I had left him on the train.”

He went to a nearby LIRR station, where the station manager reported that his jewelry case had been returned the night before.

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The jeweler and his wife took the next train to New York, where they were able to retrieve the jewelry and meet the honest man who saved the day.

“I could only imagine what you were going through yesterday when you realized you didn’t have your jewelry,” Yellowday told the jeweler. “You know, when you get up at 6:11 am, you’re in good hands.”

Yellowday and the jeweler exchanged a warm hug. Next, the Deputy Conductor proudly held his praise while posing with LIRR bigwigs including LIRR President Phil Eng. Later, he would enjoy a lunch date with the jeweler and his wife.

NBC reported that the jeweler plans to reward Yellowday with personalized jewelry.