In the first six weeks of operations, South Western Railway has accumulated thousands of lost property items including an ironing board, leather lounge chair and giant inflatable shark.
As much as the rail operator enjoys sorting through these curiosities and keeping them in their custody, they are reminding passengers to check they have taken all their possessions before leaving the train.
Michael Pugh, Customer Experience Manager at Waterloo station (including Lost Property), said: “Our staff from across the network work hard to ensure passengers are reunited with their belongings. However, we would encourage everyone to check they have their belongings before they leave our trains. Keys, phones and wallets are always such a pain to lose but it’s the sentimental items that really cause problems for passengers.”
What are the most unusual items that have been left recently?
- Barrister’s wig
- Ironing board
- Pirate flag, complete with pole
- Leather lounge chair
- A pair of false teeth
- Giant inflatable shark
- Giant prize bananas, pandas and doughnuts from Thorpe Park
The most common items of lost property left on trains include:
- Umbrellas
- Coats
- Wallets and purses
- Keys
- Railcards
- Specs
- Phones, laptops, and other gadgets
- Shopping bags and luggage
- Drinks bottles