|
|
 |
Several
years in the making, with precision and detail that was second-to-none,
16 thieves stopped an overnight mail train and took £2.6 million
in used bank notes - equivalent to £26 million by today's
standards.
The
gang gained information about the train movements from a solicitor's
clerk who acted as informant. Posing as train-spotters, they then
watched the railways, recording the timings and looking for the
best location for the robbery. Such was the planning involved, that
members were given tobacco boxes to put their cigarette stubs in
to prevent evidence of their existence being found.
 |
| Mick
King, chief reporter Leighton Buzzard Observer and Anne Hammond,
former chief reporter Beds and Bucks Observer, reading the original
newspaper from the time. |
The
gang knew that there would be a lot of cash in transit after the
August bank holiday in Scotland. The most important carriages were
the two directly behind the diesel engine; the second of which was
the High Value Packet Coach. Although the train had no passengers,
staff from the Royal Mail were working sorting the various packages
ready for arrival in London.
On
the night of the robbery, a leather glove was placed over the green
signal at Sears Crossing, where a farm track meets the railway line.
The red-light, to indicate the train should stop, was illuminated
instead.
 |
| The
train |
The
Glasgow-London mail train came to a halt, and as was railway custom,
the fireman David Whitby, climbed out of the engine to use the track-side
telephone. However, the lines had been disconnected and David Whitby
was taken hostage. When the driver, Jack Mills went to investigate
he was assaulted with a blow to the head.
In
order to unload the heist, the robbers had to move the train half
a mile down the track to Bridego Bridge. They uncoupled the first
two carriages and attempted to move the train using their own driver,
but he was unable to restart the train, and instead they had to
rely on Jack Mills.
 |
| Bridego
Bridge now known as Train Robbers Bridge |
Once
they'd moved the train they tied the driver and co-driver up and
forced their way into the High Value Package Coach. Using a human
chain, they managed to pass 120 sacks weighing around two and a
half tons down the embankment and onto the waiting vehicles.
As
the gang left, they allegedly offered Jack Mills some money, but
he refused it. They left a few of the bags and then made their way
to Leatherslade Farm, about 30 miles west of Leighton Buzzard on
the Bucks-Oxfordshire border.
The
farm at Oakley, near Brill, had been bought by the gang two months
before the raid took place, with the promise that they'd do it up.
They lay low after the heist, passing the time with tea and playing
Monopoly, but become aware that the police were closing in on them
and scattered.
 |
| The
Hideout |
It
was this quick exit that proved their downfall; when police entered
the farm after receiving a tip-off from a herdsman, they discovered
fingerprints on cups, in the bathroom, on a cats' bowl and the Monopoly
set. And to make matters worse, one of the gang left a handprint
on the train itself.
Eventually
all the members of the gang were caught, and collectively sentenced
to 300 years in prison, but that wasn't the end of the story. After
five years on the run, the mastermind behind the operation, Bruce
Reynolds, was caught and sentenced to 25 years in jail, of which
he served ten.
 |
| The
train robbers. |
But
perhaps the most famous of the gang was Ronnie Biggs, who escaped
from Wandsworth Prison in a furniture van after serving just 15
months of his sentence.
He
fled to Spain, Australia and finally Spain and had plastic surgery
to change his appearance. Repeated attempts to extradite him back
to Britain failed as the heist gained cult status. Eventually he
returned to the UK, and is currently serving time, aged 72 and in
poor health. His son, Michael Biggs, is campaigning to have him
released.
Another
robber, Buster Edwards, gave himself up after fleeing to Mexico
for three years. His exploits were portrayed by Phil Collins in
the hit film Buster.
The
robbery caught the imagination of the public, especially the £1
million bounty for each of the gang members; a figure unheard of
in the time. However, despite the hype and legendary status of the
gang members, the reality is that it was a serious crime and the
driver, Jack Mills, never returned to work and died six years later.
| Wendy
Marsden (nee Russell), Wymondham, Norfolk |
Friday,
24-Oct-2003 14:01:08 BST |
|
| Hi
There - Well, I was a young girl of just 16 when the robbery
occured. I had just started working as a telephonist at the
G.P.O. in Aylesbury. News came to us first as all the Fleet
Street newspaper reporters were jamming the lines to get their
stories in first. We got to know quite a few but as we had signed
the Official Secrets Act, we couldn't discuss anything with
anyone. It was a very exciting time and I know we shouldn't
have listened in, but we did...rivetting stuff....better than
any soap opera.Would love to hear from anyone else about at
that time who worked for the G.P.O. or lived in Wendover. Byeeee
for now.....Wendy |
| Carolyn,
Dunstable |
Monday,
15-Sep-2003 13:23:24 BST |
|
| Why
has the so-called Great Train Robbery been glorified so much
over the years? The robbers were petty crooks, clearly out of
their depth with big-time crime. They left fingerprints and
red-hot clues left, right and centre, the planning was feeble,
they were responsible for a man's severe trauma and early death
and they were too amateur to get away with their crimes for
any length of time. The film should have been a Carry-On movie! |
| conrad
vickers, cleethorpes |
Saturday,
13-Sep-2003 14:56:51 BST |
|
| A
well organised job,I,m highly impressed & they should free Ronnie
as he has already served his time. |
| Jemma
Boyles, Luton |
Sunday,
07-Sep-2003 07:54:33 BST |
|
| i
pass over the bridge everyday on my way to work. Always look
out over the fields and try and imagine what it would have been
like the night of the robbery! |
| Bryan
Coventry, leighton Buzard |
Saturday,
23-Aug-2003 10:42:33 BST |
|
| Ilive
very close to the bridge.Infact I pass most days.I never fail
to look over the feild as i pass and make a mental note that
thisis a peiceof history.Unfortunatly i am one of a very few
who are interested any more. |
| Colin,
Dagenham |
Friday,
22-Aug-2003 12:42:53 BST |
|
| They
made the mistake of stealing money because then money meant
more than taking a life! |
| james,
Buckingham |
Friday,
22-Aug-2003 23:06:42 BST |
|
| I
think there sentences where to long i dont think it it was right
that they had taken all that money but they didnt kill any one
and people who have done worse crimes get less sentences |
| Ian
Henderson, Milton Keynes |
Wednesday,
20-Aug-2003 18:29:13 BST |
|
| My
Wife's grandfather was the signal engineer who was sent to inspect
the signals and found the glove covering the green lamp and
modifications to show red. |
| Mike
Gray, London,UK |
Wednesday,
13-Aug-2003 16:04:34 BST |
|
| I
am a close freind of Ronnie & Michael Biggs as well as organising
the Free Ronnie Biggs Campaign,and i am always told by the Media,that
is it right to glorify crime ?? Well, Mr John Woolley (Ex-Police
Officer) seems to be doing exactly that ??? A case of double
standards your honour ? |
| Mark
Brewer, harpenden |
Monday,
11-Aug-2003 08:17:42 BST |
|
| ronnie
biggs went finally to brazil, where he had plastic surgery not
spain |
| linda
coy , bryan,ohio, USA |
Sunday,
10-Aug-2003 17:18:36 BST |
|
| very
interesting and intertaining, glad its history now |
| Connor
, Aylesbury |
Saturday,
09-Aug-2003 16:40:53 BST |
|
| My
nanny and grandad told me about the great train robbery and
i am 8 . |
| Michio
HOSHINO, Matsudo-C,JAPAN |
Saturday,
09-Aug-2003 09:29:11 BST |
|
| I
was a guest-reasercher at C.I.T. in 1973. Today, I come across
this comments. I am very happy. 40 years ago, 30years ago look
like yesterday,and the day before. |
|
