Weirdest Things People Have Forgotten on Buses and Trains
Commuters forget far more than wallets and phones. Each year, public transport offices handle thousands of misplaced items, ranging from everyday essentials to truly unexpected objects. Among the strangest are items such as frozen dinners and even pieces of furniture. These are the unforgettable discoveries that prove travelers will forget almost anything once the doors close.
A Canoe
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One transport company has reported finding a full-sized canoe in the lost property office. It occupied multiple lockers and remained unclaimed after the statutory retention period had expired. The item was eventually disposed of or repurposed in accordance with company policy.
Prosthetic Leg
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A coach driver reported finding a prosthetic leg tucked under a seat during a routine clean of a long-haul bus. Without an owner coming forward, the item was logged and stored in accordance with lost-property protocol. Medical equipment appears less frequently than phones or bags, but when it does, it raises complex questions regarding handling and disposal.
False Teeth
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Transport lost-property teams note dentures as a recurring category. One employer cited several cases where passengers removed dental prosthetics while sleeping or resting and then forgot them on board. Each set is documented, sealed for hygiene, and stored for a specified period before disposal in accordance with company rules governing the disposal of medical items.
Frozen Turkey
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One driver inspecting luggage racks after a December route found a frozen supermarket turkey, still sealed and solid. It likely belonged to a passenger traveling for the Christmas holiday. When no one claimed it, the turkey was logged and disposed of in accordance with food safety rules.
A Brass Rabbit Covered in Gems
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A brass rabbit, decorated with colored glass stones, showed up in the lost property department. The seven-pound ornament had no owner information or tag. Staff concluded it was a decorative piece, cataloged it, and later donated it to a local reuse organization for display.
An Urn with Ashes
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On one particular coach, the staff discovered an urn containing ashes. Authorities were immediately notified, and identification checks were launched through funeral registries. No family contact surfaced. The urn was then transferred to the coroner’s office, where it remains under safe custody, handled with the same respect as any official remains.
A Canvas of ‘The Ten Commandments’
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A hand-painted canvas featuring “The Ten Commandments” was left behind on a route. The painting, two feet wide, drew attention for its bold typography. It remained unclaimed and was later donated to a community charity linked to a local church, which then put it up for auction.
A Wardrobe
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Operational staff once encountered a wooden wardrobe left aboard a service. The item obstructed seating rows and required several workers to remove it safely and securely. Having remained unclaimed after the standard holding time, the wardrobe was processed according to oversized-item procedures and logged in the year’s most unusual retrievals list.
A Collection of Historic Coins and Stamps
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A box of vintage coins and old stamps was found in a seat compartment on a coach service. After being valued and catalogued, this collection entered the operator’s lost-property system for the required retention period. With no claimant, ownership reverted to company policy.
A Shoulder Massager
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During evening cleaning, an employee noticed a vibration coming from a seat. The culprit was a portable shoulder massager, which was still running on battery power. Once unplugged and tagged, it was added to the lost property inventory. Devices like this are occasionally found but are rarely still switched on when discovered.
A Gold Purse with a Pokémon Card
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Among recent years’ smallest finds was a metallic gold purse holding only a single Pokémon card. No ID or cash was present. The item was recorded as a child’s possession and kept for 30 days. When no claim followed, both purse and card were recycled according to standard disposal rules.
A Tent
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A neatly packed tent, complete with ropes and stakes, was found under a row of seats on a bus. The outdoor gear appeared unused. After the waiting period expired, it was donated to a charity supporting unhoused residents.
A Fridge
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A full-size refrigerator was reported as lost property after employees discovered it during a post-route inspection. As oversized luggage, it followed the same protocols for removal, logging, and disposal under regulated waste management practices. No passenger claimed the appliance.
A Set of Walking Sticks and £9,000 in Cash
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Cleaning crews at a bus depot discovered a bag containing walking sticks and a substantial amount of cash during inventory checks. The cash was documented in accordance with security policy, and the sticks were logged as mobility aids. After following the verification procedures and holding period, the items were returned in accordance with operator recovery protocols.
A Box of Hairnets and a Frying Pan
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A cardboard box filled with disposable hairnets and a used frying pan puzzled cleaners during an end-of-shift inspection. The collection seemed linked to catering work but went unclaimed. Once cleared, the items were given to a community culinary training center, where they quickly found new purpose.