London North Eastern Railway’s Lost and Found department is an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of incredible items left behind on the company’s trains. Maurice Green is a savior who reunites customers with their valuables.
Maurice is a former engineer who is often a lifesaver, sometimes saving lives himself. Over the course of six years, thousands of items found or left behind on trains came into Maurice’s care.
The most common items found on trains are mobile phones and laptops, but the range includes everything from lifebuoys to hoovers, ironing boards to wheelchairs.
Maurice Green is the master of them all, safely cataloging and storing lost items, waiting for their owners to retrieve them.
Among the items recovered that people are expected to notice are missing: a bright orange lifebuoy, a giant life-sized stuffed animal, a pram with baby food, a walker, This includes wheelchairs, electric bicycles, etc.
With nearly 100 items arriving from one station in one afternoon, Maurice is certainly busy. Some of the most memorable items he has encountered or reunited with his owners include:
- A signed photo of Steven Gerrard taken at the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul.
- A mobile disco equipped with a DJ mixing deck.
- A Louis Vuitton wallet that has great sentimental value to its owner. Maurice recalls reuniting the car with its distraught owner as one of the most special moments of his career.
- We also have a large selection of stuffed animals and baby comforters for children.
- A Dyson vacuum cleaner.
Customers can report and search for properties online with tips and advice on how to track available items on the London North Eastern Railway website by clicking here.
Items remain unclaimed for a period of time before being sent to auction. Proceeds will be donated to London North Eastern Railway’s partner charity CALM and local charities supporting bereaved families.
Maurice said: “I am proud that last year alone he was able to raise over £20,000 for CALM. The money raised from the sale of unclaimed and unwanted items will be put to good use and help people. , it’s good to know that it makes a difference.
Maurice explained that no two days are the same. “I’ve been doing this job for a while and I’m often surprised by things left behind or lost on trains and stations. We try to collect as much as we can, big and small, from luggage to unusual items like prosthetic legs. Many of our customers really appreciate being reunited with their belongings, and we are happy to help.
“I love working for the railways and the past 12 years at LNER have been the best years of my life. I am always happy to help, look after people and provide great customer service. We do our best every day to deliver.”
