Ferret causes panic on train by racing around carriages & eating driver's lunch

BBC News On-Line ^ | 19 May, 2003 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

Monday, 19 May, 2003

Hungry ferret causes rail scare

The ferret caused a stir on
board the Midlands Mainline train

A hungry ferret has caused panic on a train by racing around carriages and eating the driver's lunch, a train company says.

Frightened passengers screamed as the stray animal clambered over their laps after jumping on board at Leicester station.

The feral animal ran at top speed around the Nottingham-bound Midland Mainline service, before it sneaked into the driver's cab and dived into his lunch box.

A company spokesman said the ferret ate the driver's cheese sandwiches and biscuits before he noticed the intruder.

'Scared stiff'

"The passengers were all scared stiff that the ferret was going to bite them.

"They were all going crazy," said the Midland Mainline spokesman.

"We have recently introduced a clampdown on fare-dodging - we are thinking of introducing a new policy of ferret-dodging."

After discovering the animal, the train driver radioed ahead to Long Eaton station, in Derbyshire, 15 minutes down the track, to ask for help.

RSPCA inspectors were called on board and took the ferret away in a cardboard box.

[John Beresford Tipton]

"the ferret ate the driver's cheese sandwiches"

Cheese eating- Oui
Surrender Monkey-Non!

[Petronski]

May the bluebird of happiness fly up your pants.

[goldstategop]

Domestic ferrets are cuddly critters. They're not dangerous at all. Don't confuse the little fellow for a weasel.

[basil]

I read this headline, and thought our own freeper Ferret was making another statement--LOL!

[martin_fierro]

Panic, schmanic.

A gerbil once caused Armageddon. <|:)~

[blackdog]

Islamic Feret.

[Xenalyte]

Okay, let's hear the REAL story . . .

[joesnuffy]

A ferret once bit a moose's sister
which is the rationale the moose later gave
for his compulsion for biting someone elses sister..
a FReeper's I think....

[blackdog]

Hold Muh Gerbil Alert!

OMG, that is/was funny! I never thought anyone would top the "Lemiwinks, Gerbil King" bit on Southpark.

[martin_fierro]

It's been debunked as Urban Legend, but it's still a funny story. <|:)~

[Damocles]

What is with the Europeans and animals?  They seem to have trouble getting along:

 

Squirrel -1

Squirrel -2

Badger

Wild Boar

Owl

Caterpillars

[yankeedame]

Hilarious sites! ('cept I skipped the one about caterpillars. Iccky) and thanks for the post. Yeah, you're right. What is it with these people and animals?

[zx2dragon]

That poor fert. Hope it gets a good home. My ferts

[hot august night]

I enjoyed your web page...your fuzzies are adorable!!

Mine were especially fond of rubber chew toys (the doggy kind that squeak). They used to play "Hide and Seek" them...one would hide it, the other would find it...and back and forth...

[r9etb]

A company spokesman said the ferret ate the driver's cheese sandwiches and biscuits before he noticed the intruder.

So who noticed whom here, and who is the intruder?

If I read it correctly, either they're saying that the ferret noticed the intruding driver; or the company spokesman noticed the ferret, and the poor driver is still wondering what happened to his lunch....

[zx2dragon]

Thanks! It can be quite a handful having 9 carpet sharks running around (I have 2 since Ryo passed away and my roomie has 7), but they always manage to put a smile on my face.

Each one seems to have a favourite toy. Tenchi likes a rubber squeeky ball and a sisal ball. Ayeka thinks that people are the best toys.

[AF_Blue]

My carpet shark's favorite toys are my cats. The feeling isn't mutual.