A Thistle-y Thing

I'm pretty sure it is a thistle albeit a dead one but I'm crap at identifying plants!

Anyhoo, this was taken at the train station where I dropped Josie off as she's at the cinema with a bunch of girlfriends to a "Twi-athalon" later. It starts a 4.30 and finishesjust after 2am! They all have pj's lounge pants to wear and have been allowed to take their own snacks & fleecy bankets.