There are a number of tried-and-true excuses for train delays and everyone's used to hearing. Leaves on the line, the wrong kind of snow, that sort of thing - but a fake cow left at a railway station? That's a new one.
The synthetic bovine in question was left at Steinfurt railway station by pranksters who had stolen it from its owner nearby.
"It's always being stolen," said Bernie Schimdt, the owner of the life-size fake cow. "People have a few drinks and think it would be a very funny thing to do."
But why do Mr. and Mrs. Schimdt have a life-size fake cow in the first place? Well, that's easily answered: "We have her in the garden because it's a bit classier than a gnome."
So would a replica of Yoda holding a crossbow and standing on one foot, but we'll take his point anyway.
But as this is such an utterly random photograph, we're going to add it to our highly unusual photo gallery of highly unusual photos, which you can check out below.