Pet labrador which 'knew train timetable' dies

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

A dog which made headlines around the world after he lost his owner and caught the right train home has died.

Archie the labrador became separated from owner Mike Taitt in 2005, so the impatient dog boarded the train at Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. Archie got off the train when it stopped at Insch and was spotted by a signalman, who contacted his owner.

Mr Taitt said of Archie's death at the age of 13: "It's very sad. He was a great friend and a great character."

The story of Archie's solo train journey was retold around the world.

Neither fellow passengers nor railway staff realised that the black labrador was unaccompanied.

The Insch station signalman Derek Hope logged Archie's arrival as Incident no. 822344: "Unaccompanied doggie gets off train. There was the train conductor standing with Archie on the platform saying he had got on at Inverurie and didn't have a ticket."

Mr Taitt said at the time "He is a very intelligent dog. I am sure he can read a timetable. When he could not find me he took the right train home. He's been on that train before. I am convinced he knew it was the right one. But who knows."