The Great Train Robbery: What Went Wrong?

This week we take a dive into The Great Train Robbery.
As we worked our way through this story it became clear that there we so many tails, rumors and theories. We have done our best to take sources from various documentaries that have either used the criminals involved or the police involved from the time.
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Huge Thanks:
Kate Smith - Commentator Throughout.
Steve Pilfold - Network Rail Operations
Matt Jones - Actor Playing the Role of generic Police Man.
Class 40 Footage: Mark Langley ( mark-langley.com )
Class 40 Footage (fast): Simon Trains: / @sim0ntrains
Class 40 Footage: Andy Chard.
Usual notices:
1. We are not historians. We enjoy researching and learning, and with that we enjoy sharing our journeys with you.
2. Errors. Whilst we make every attempt to not include any errors, research, and piecing stories together from dozens of sources sometimes leads to one or two. I will note here if any are found:
Credit and Thanks
Filter: Snowman Digital and Beachfront B-Roll
Maps: Google Maps
Maps: National Library of Scotland
Maps: OS Maps. Media License.
Stock Footage: Storyblocks
Music: Storyblocks
Old Map: NLS - www.nls.uk/
Picture Credits: CC(listed below):
Leatherslade Farm and Light Shot from behind: Thames Valley Police.
Leatherslade Farm and Lane: David Hagwood
Royal Mail Interior and Exterior: Oxyman
Austin Loadstar: Lars Goran Lindgren
Black and white sacks being Loaded: Royal Mail Group
Wandsworth prison: Derek Harper
Landrover One and Two: Charles01
Landrover internal x 2: Dipaby - Thamos Vogt
Yard with Landrover: Chris Allen
Finger prints one: Metronomo
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:15 - The Scene is Set
02:41 - The Gang
05:26 - The Robbery
09:05 - The Aftermath
11:58 - End Game
16:00 - Outtakes

[@Mortimer50145]

Two stories about the Great Train Robbery: - My sister used to know someone in the 1990s who had recently bought Leatherslade Farm in Oakley, the robbers' hideout. I mentioned the GTR connection to my sister who told her friend. The friend was rather perturbed as she had no idea of this. - When a teacher at my old school, Aylesbury Grammar School, was retiring, he told a story worthy of Gerard Hoffnung's "Barrel of Bricks" story, about a colleague who had been taking dinner duty during the trial of the robbers. At that time, the school did not have its own dining room, so all the boys had to be escorted across the road (Walton Street) to another school's dining faciilities. The trial was held at Aylesbury's Council Chamber, near the Gyratory System roundabout at the end of Walton Street, because the court building in the Market Place did not have a large enough dock to hold all the prisoners. Every lunchtime, the prisoners were taken by "Black Maria" from the "court" to Aylesbury Prison. The teacher who was escorting the schoolboys knew about the triall, and when he saw a convoy of police cars, he let them pass. He saw several dirty black vans behind them. "They can wait" he decided, so he walked into the road and stopped them to let the long procession of boys cross. The "dirty black vans" were the ones containing the prisoners. The police cars escorting the vans notived that they had lost their prisoners, so they did handbrake turns and returned at high speed, bells sounding and lights flashing. By this time, the last of the boys had crossed. The police cars passed the vans going in the opposite direction, so the vans turned round to follow the police cars - just as the police cars were turning round, having found the vans. The police and vans passed each other for the second time. Eventually order was restored. From then on, the prisoners looked out of the window each day and waved at the schoolboys who had unwittingly caused such confusion.

[@franceshoward7112]

I remember the Great Train Robbery well as we had just moved to Bourne End and the day after wanted to take the new baby for a walk in the woods. But the roads were thick with police cars so we thought it prudent to return to our brand new house and stay in the garden. The whole episode was very strange. You have stirred up memories and I will show this to the "baby" who is now in his 60s.

[@MrKnowwun]

Paul, you were nearer to the robbery than you think. There was a siding at Cheddington station, where the loco and consist were dragged to to carry out the forensic examination. Driver jack mills never really recovered from his injuries and died prematurely. My father was a train driver at the time, and I can tell you all BR staff would have seen them locked up for life.

[@jessehalper]

As an 8 year old in 1963 this crime is embedded in my childhood. You have a knack for reporting old true crime.

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Greetings from an Australian rail fan. I was 14 when this incident occurred. A couple of months later, JFK was assassinated.

[@TalesOfWar]

Nice nod to Geoff with the bin bag fluttering in the wind.

[@pwhitewick]

Haha... 😊

[@davidbuick8401]

Came here to say this!

[@geofftech2]

I approve of the big bag shots! 😅

[@emmy1954]

Great video, I've always been interested in 'The Great train robbery 'as it was biggest news story to catch my attention at the time aged 9. I also sometimes used to buy flowers off Buster Edwards at Waterloo Station.

[@nowster]

As the great Peter Cook and Alan Bennett remarked in a sketch at the time the Great Train Robbery "involved no actual loss of train".

[@ThomasTrue]

It's often claimed that when the money was totalled up, Bruce Reynolds said, "It's too big." He knew if caught, an example would be made of them.

[@pwhitewick]

This definitely makes sense

[@tampa9221]

You’ve watched the to version by tv

[@myarnie1950]

My uncle was a train guard based in Crewe as was the driver Mills. Mills recd no compensation for his injuries from BR because he argued with the robbers and should have done as was told. He died a very poor and was ill for many years before his death. On the other hand Ronnie Biggs led a charmed life especially in Melbourne

[@pwhitewick]

Times have indeed changed for the better. Mills would now be very much offered all kinds of counselling and help he needed.

[@black5f]

All at the robbery, they were all guilty of the robbery. If an innocent man just doing his job get hurt in the robbery, then they are all guilty of that as well, including Biggs. RIP Driver Mills.

[@jimmorris6395]

Mr Mills did receive compensation but very inadequate. The local union (cant remember Aslef or anoother rail union) and national newspapers had a whip round and Jack and Flo could buy a luxury bungalow. Sadly Jack died before they could move in.

[@myarnie1950]

@@jimmorris6395didn’t know this, I’m surprised my Uncle never mentioned it as they were “mates” rip

[@andrewmeadows2596]

Who said crime doesn't pay.

[@simonf8370]

Cracking video and big thanks to everyone who joined in. Top production. Just one weird part with 2 Leighton Buzzards on the map, but still 1000 times better than I could do!

[@andrewhutchinson36]

There is a slight error concerning the Bank Holiday date. Up until 1965, the August Bank Holiday was the 1st Monday in August throughout the UK, not just in Scotland. So in 1963, the Bank Holiday refereed to would not just have been "in Scotland" but it would have been a holiday in England & Wales and Northern Ireland as well.

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers for clarification Andrew

[@katesmith5767]

That’s entirely on me! Sorry Paul!

[@mikebirkett010]

Actually, I believe it was up until the early 70's.

[@rogink]

Ah. Bank holidays in Scotland. Do they exist? At least for anyone other than banks? When I was in Scotland in the 90s, working for a national company, we were told only local holidays applied. So we missed out on Easter Monday. Then when Glasgow fairs came in July, well, it wasn't a bank holiday, so it had to be worked!

[@andrewhutchinson36]

@@mikebirkett010 The period 1965 to 1971 was a trial period, with the Bank Holiday in England and Wales being the Monday after the last weekend in August. This meant that for 2 years in the late 1960's the "August Bank Holiday" was actually on the 1st or 2nd of September! Having the holiday in September was seen as undesirable. So when the change was made permanent in 1971, the date was set as the last Monday in August. This means that the latest the holiday can occur is Monday 31st August. Hope this clarifies and ties up all the detail!

[@Bystander333]

This was a step up in the game. I love an old story retold. This is oral tradition, where stories are refreshed, sometimes with elaboration, sometimes with reduction. And even though we no longer sit around fires, even if all the information is buried in Wikipedia and documentaries from the 90s. Talking about it is important!

[@pwhitewick]

🙏🙏🙏

[@richardbradley2335]

My mum and dad lived in Cheddington at the time. As my dad work on the railways, he was called out on emergency to the site that morning.

[@martinmarsola6477]

I’ve heard about this throughout the years, but this is the first breakdown of what happened. Thank you as always for the walking breakdown of what happened, and where. Hello to Rebecca, and enjoy your week ahead. Appreciated very much, Paul! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@radiosnail]

Brilliant video. Less brilliant criminals. Using your own law firm to buy the property and not burning the place down. Dear oh dear.

[@pwhitewick]

Quote the tale!!

[@DavidHolliday]

Brilliant - one of your best videos, Paul. I was a kid when the robbery took place, and I remember the story well - you’ve filled in a lot of the details for me.

[@davie941]

great interesting video Paul , really enjoyed it , thank you 😊

[@yousufkazmi7842]

RIP Jack Mills & David Whitby (the 2nd man) neither recovered from the attack and as is usual the victims become mere details, if they are lucky. Interesting that the sentences given were longer due to the agrivated attack on the loco crew. Always thought Driver Mills died just outside the ancient "Year and a Day" rule for Murder charges, but he suffered for 7 mores years as did David Whitby. Excellent telling of the story.

[@cedarcam]

Jack will always be remembered There is a red plaque on Crewe station in his and David's honour.

[@thesoultwins72]

@yousufkazmi7842..........In 2014 I left Hong Kong where I lived and worked for over 20 years and took early retirement. My wife and I went to live in Thailand where I had bought my 'dream' retirement home - a lovely 4-bedroom 'pool villa'. However, I was the victim of the most outrageous fraud and unbelievable levels of corruption. [the criminals bribed the court, the judge, the police and even my own lawyer!] After nearly 4 years of fighting a wholly futile legal battle, I lost my house and all my savings and ended up homeless and penniless. Although I managed to get my wife and I back to HK - I couldn't get work in my profession as the CCP under Xi Jinping had introduced the most unbelievably racist employment restrictions on Non Chinese as well as the incredibly evil 'National Security Law'. [Over 100,000 extremely well-educated and smart business professionals left HK in the first 6 months following the introduction of the NSL] Our wonderful British [Tory] government did absolutely nothing about this - despite the fact that the CCP's actions were in complete breach of the 'One Country Two Systems' agreement between China and Britain - which should have been honoured until 2047. [in effect, Xi and the CCP illegally seized control of HK]. As I could only find low-paid menial work, most months I was unable to pay the rent or bills and buy food. So, it fell to my wife to support us. She worked in a restaurant and had a reasonably stable income but was very unhappy with this situation. She told her boss and one of her colleagues - who had fancied her since she started working there. He persuaded her to dump me and that he would take care of her. So, after 16 years of marriage [and almost 15 years where I had paid for everything - rent, bills, food, nice clothes, lovely holidays, dinners and lunches] my wife left me. As you rightly say - it's always the victims that pay. And nobody gives a shit about us. We don't get lucrative book and film deals, invited on chat shows and become 'celebrities' to spend the rest out lives in luxury. Nobody cares about us or want to hear 'our story'. We are just totally forgotten.

[@joshua6244]

David Whitby was 25 at the time. He was never the same afterwards and died of a heart attack aged 34.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

This is something new for the channel. Very well done and perfectly paced.

[@bobsrailrelics]

Really enjoyed this, well produced and telling the story in a way people could follow.

[@pras12100]

Just to add: The locomotive was numbered D326 which, when the TOPS numbering scheme was brought in, was renumbered 40 126. This locomotive had an eventful few years. It was involved in a fatal accident at the end of 1962, used in the robbery in August 1963 and had a part in two more accidents in August 1964 and August 1965. It was scrapped in 1985.

[@katesmith5767]

We did cover the loco but the information didn’t make it to the edit to keep the video sharp. I’m thinking of doing a video specifically about the loco once I get a chance to

[@hedleythorne]

Superb documentary Paul.

[@peterharris3563]

There was a very detailed article published in the Railway Magazine about 10 years ago about the robbery which explained some things that have always puzzled me. Sears Crossing is one of the locations where there are connections between the pairs of fast and slow lines. In the up direction the crossing is protected by a gantry mounted stop signal with a dwarf distant or repeater signal in the rear. The robbers made both these signals show a false aspect with the aid of a battery, however instead of obscuring the green aspect of the dwarf signal, they removed the bulb. This was their first mistake as removing the bulb would register as a fault in the signal box and a signal tech would be dispatched to site to investigate. The same article also suggested that the substitute driver's inability to release the brakes was due to the robbers' failure to properly close the brake isolating cocks when they uncoupled the train. By the time they had brought Mills back enough of a vacuum had built up to enable the brakes to be released.

[@cedarcam]

I was going to post about both these things. When the lamp was removed it caused a lamp failure buzzer to sound and the signalman sent for the lineman, he also thought the train had stopped at the green signal, falsely showing red, to report that the distant had no light showing. Class 40 locomotives were slow to release brakes and the robbers driver had never driven one, he was removed from the drivers seat because the robbers got impatient, it is also true that they had not fully closed the isolating cock causing the brake vacuum to build up even slower. I kept several news cuttings about the robbery which also told of them not realising how high the doors were on a train not stood in a station, which gave driver Jack Mills a big advantage over preventing them getting into the cab, the train was also stopped with the locomotive at the bridge where they had placed a white banner, another mistake because they had to carry the bags two coach lengths to the bridge.

[@jimmorris6395]

The signal technician was not called out for several hours and then had to travel a good distance to the site of the robbery.

[@cedarcam]

@@jimmorris6395 He would of been called out from home in those days. I don't know how long after, but if a lamp out alarm sounded it would be a priority call out as that would lock the signal behind at red, so I would of thought the call out was sent early on even though no one got there until a few hours later.

[@jacekatalakis8316]

@@cedarcam I'd need to go get the source, but several articles I found over the years said that the driver they brought along was either a BR driver or a retired BR driver who had never operated that class of loco before and had no clue how to operate it and was only used to shunting on the Southern region. Annoyingly Wikipedia has no source for this part, but it's a claim I have seen across several documentaries and several articles and series about the robbery EDIT: Is that article anywhere online or do I need to go buy the physical mag and scan it in?

[@cedarcam]

@@jacekatalakis8316 I have a book about the robbery by Piers Morgan and from years ago the true story as told by Ronnie Biggs from the Sun newspaper, published over a few days, In one of those I think the Sun one it says they planned to drive the train themselves because they feared the driver would not co operate or what if he started the train and just carried on going, they went to Euston Station where one of them, pretending to be a school teacher who was teaching the class about railways, asked if he could have a look in the cab, the driver was willing to tell him about what it was like driving and showed him the controls, understandably they were rather daunted at the thought of getting the train moved and stopped in the right place. It was then by chance Ronnie Biggs, who was a decorator at the time, got a job at a house where the man told him he was a retired train driver, I do not remember how but Ronnie knew about the robbery plan and said he was sure he could get a driver for a fee and so became another member of the gang. Ronnie never disclosed his real name but said they went to Euston where Ronnie showed the driver the type of locomotive they wanted to move, the retired driver had only driven diesel shunters, he sauntered up to the cab of the locomotive where he said he was starting training on these big B's and could he have a look round to get an idea of what they were like, the driver showed him everything and when the retired driver went back to Ronnie he said he was sure he could move the locomotive for them, he had no idea about the robbery where it would take place or when. Only later on just before the night was he told where to meet and his job was to drive a mail train a short distance for which he would be paid a good bit of money. He was upset by the violence when things went wrong, paid his fee and sent on his way never to be seen or heard of again, an honest railwayman who had become involved in something far bigger than he imagined when first asked if he could move a train for a little job with a fee.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Epic! Enjoyed watching this one Paul and love that perfect timing at the end.

[@pwhitewick]

It was busy!

[@holidaymail]

Really well made video Paul! Thanks

[@timbervalleyproductions]

This was a fantastic video! Really well put together and informative - thanks!!

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Excellent video. I remember that from my young years. Well presented and explained. Thank you Paul.

[@Rail_Focus]

Great video, loving the addition of Steve!

[@lawrencebooth3017]

Great video!! I used to live in Cheddington, so this almost folklore for us. Thanks for bringing the story to a greater audience.

[@kevindennehy7105]

Brilliantly done. Very professional.

[@WacoA.I.]

This is really good and interesting. Paul makes walking down the lane interesting.

[@Christina-ge3xr]

The part that bothers me the most is how easily one can mess with the signals! Hopefully that has changed. Loved the “bloopers” by the way 😅

[@WAYNEMODELBUILDER]

I like all your videos but these type ones I like the best, and this place is only 30 minutes from me so was nice to see this covered

[@pwhitewick]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@KarlVaughan]

Being from Aylesbury I know a fair bit about the Great Train Robbery. The trials took place in the town and some of the arrested gang members were taken to Aylesbury Police Station. Sadly this building was demolished a few years ago by our short-sighted council leader. I have quite a few press photos of the robbery site, arrests and judges attending the Rural District Council offices in Walton Street, Aylesbury - that is where the hearings were held because it had more space. The town at the time was often overtaken by the press and onlookers. A local pub called the Millwrights is where a lot of the press went and a large blackboard was mounted on the wall and some of the people signed it. I don't know what happened to that board. It would make an interesting museum piece.

[@kevinrayner5812]

They were also held in Aylesbury prison for the trial so not far to travel to the court. I was also local to the area and my father worked at Aylesbury nick but the family were on holiday in Guernsey at the time so imagine the surprise when Buckinghamshire was the centre of the news. Never before and never since.

[@howardscott1556]

My father worked in the Electricity Board offices on the other side of Exchange Street from the Police station and took part in an identity parade with some of the robbers. They were frequently asked to rake part in parades as one of the office secretaries was married to a desk sergeant at the station and he just used to phone across for volunteers.

[@paulinehedges5088]

Fascinating. Thank you Paul for a really good twist on a railway theme video.😊😊😊

[@pwhitewick]

Many thanks!

[@Bender24k]

Superb. I never heard the story before and I'm glad it came from you, Paul. Cheers from New York!

[@pwhitewick]

A pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@Hairnicks]

That was bloody brilliant Paul, well done.

[@lesmaybury793]

Great narrative from Paul. lived through this time and remember the drama well. Living in Hampshire at the time it seemed remote. Now I live in Leighton Buzzard, for the last 26 years, and it is local history with photos from the time to be seen in local pubs. I hope Paul did a piece on the Grand Union Canal which is near Bridego bridge. The Grove Lock pub is a good place to visit it, grab a pint and a bite to eat as well.

[@chrish5319]

Loved this video, thank you.

[@TheWoodlandhoBo]

Nice one Paul. This is literally down the road to me. 👍🏻

[@piggybakkers]

Congratulations. As per usual an extremely polished and professional production.

[@grahamsmith8091]

Excellent vid Paul. Thanks

[@-DC-]

Flipping brilliant Paul and Kate 👍

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you 😊

[@chrissybee18]

I own the series 2A land rover...296 POO. Gonna get round to making a video about it one day.

[@ianfox6106]

Hello from Australia and thanks for this video. If it amuses you I can tell you about Australia's great train robber. A train carrying the pay for Bes South Railway workers left Sydney and as it passed Yanderea, south of Sydney, a bomb exploded under the train. All 3 train crew were killed. The robbers got away with several thousand pounds, as this was when Australia still used pounds. The criminals were never found. The date was 8 December 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. So the newspapers were full of the news of the attack. Only a few weeks later Australia was attacked by the same Japanese aircraft carriers which attacked Pearl Harbor. The result was nobody remembers the robbery.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Might need to fix your typo? It is Yanderra (between Bargo and Moss Vale) not Yanderea!

[@ianfox6106]

@@theoztreecrasher2647 yeah that's the one

[@johnsamson-snell9558]

That was really good thank you!

[@marktaylor1670]

Loved the video. Good to learn more about the Great train robbery. Keep up the good work 👏

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Mark

[@peterfishley3951]

Very interesting and well done Paul.😊

[@chriskirschten203]

Great video! I enjoyed all the other narrators.

[@stephendavies6949]

Like yourself, this happened before my time, but my parents and relatives used to talk about it often. A well crafted, summarised and narratated, rail-related mini-documentary. An excellent watch!

[@michaelmiller641]

Great video! Thanks!

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you 😊

[@robertallen8715]

Great stuff. Thank you.

[@mikeakhurst1855]

Great video guys . Well done

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks 👍

[@francischurch4460]

Thank you. As it was train related I'm surprised Rebecca didn't steal it from you! The sentences all ways seemed harsh for the crime. But I guess the powers to be did not want this thing being repeated. Wonderful video. Again thank you.

[@janebaker966]

Its a pretty tawdry story isnt it. Stupid that our old style legacy media made these inadequates out to be heroes. But fate is not cheated.

[@billyruss]

Well-informed video on a topic a little off the normal stuff you do. Fascinating stuff 🙂

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you kindly

[@roberttucker805]

I've read that the locomotive had a bit of a chequered history. I believe it was broken up after withdrawal in 1984 but was kept secret to prevent souvenir hunters getting to it.

[@speedbirdconcordeBOAB]

That’s true a young second man died whilst cleaning the windscreen and came in contact with the overhead wires . The loco also ran away in Birmingham after being left standing without the parking brake set. A jinxed loco for sure.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

I love the way you’ve put this together, a cracking video Paul.

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Steve

[@jagman84]

The facts not the folklore. Great work.

[@pwhitewick]

@@jagman84 and there was a lot of that to sift through

[@BumblebumBear]

Excellent video….thank you

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you too!

[@MartinJames389]

What wasn't mentioned was why this large (or any) amount of cash was on a train. In England, banks would weed out banknotes which had become too tatty for further circulation or were surplus to their requirements, and they would either be sent for destruction or recirculated centrally. In Scotland, the banks (five of them in those days) all issue their own banknotes, but English notes also circulate. They all have to be sent back to England to be dealt with. Hence the large amount of English banknotes on the Glasgow mail train.

[@teecefamilykent]

Brilliant video sir!

[@pwhitewick]

Many thanks!

[@mezmanmerrill7412]

The Great Train Robbery: Crime of the Century: The Definitive Account. Is a very detailed book about this. Fantastic video.

[@franticstorm7411]

Perhaps seen as an attack on the establishment. The establishment didn't like it and hit back hard.

[@pwhitewick]

Absolutely yes

[@janebaker966]

No,an attack on ordinary people,most of that money was birthday gifts,postal orders etc. It wasn't tax money and none of them was Robin Hood. If you're so counter cultural did you ignore lockdown,refuse to mask up,have no jabs?

[@MckIdyll]

...by lying to the nation, and to themselves as well.

[@iainholmes2735]

Great docu. Cheers

[@andykopgod]

Great video, it was a daring robbery but the problem was there were just too many of them, bound to go wrong. But its a story that never gets boring, well done paul amazing job 👏👏👏

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Really enjoyed that thanks. You gotta give them credit for nerves. Please take care

[@StephenDavenport-zqz2ub]

A great video. Sadly if I remember, the driver Jack Mills never recovered from his injuries and suffered before his death. The sentences the robbers received fitted their crime.

[@pwhitewick]

Yup, I think he would now be very much recognise and treated for PTSD and given the help he needed.

[@jimjam1934]

@@pwhitewick Think I read he died of Leukaemia, poor bloke, went to do a nights work and had to deal with that for the rest of his life

[@user-bv5lc1nf5d]

There is talk that Jack will get a statue outside the Town Hall (Glebe Street) in Stoke-on-Trent.

[@cedarcam]

@@user-bv5lc1nf5d That will be good. There is a plaque on Crewe Station in his honour

[@jimmorris6395]

@@pwhitewick Covered in a book published in August 2024. Very good video - only a couple of minor flaws with fact.

[@martyncarroll5035]

I think in absolutely disgusting That network Rail Have Dicided To name the bridge TRAIN ROBBERS BRIDGE It is insulting to The Men who And worked with Jack mills And the Second Man Dave Whitby Network Rail should be ashamed The Engine Was A Class Forty Locomotive D326 AKA 40126 It was also involved in a Collision At Coppenhall Junction on Boxing Day 1962 While Working The 1.30 PM Glasgow to Euston (THE MIDDAY SCOT) It ran into 4.45 PM Liverpool Lime street To Birmingham New Street at COPPENHALL JUNCTION NEAR CREWE Killing 18 Passengers

[@LKBRICKS1993]

Excellent really enjoyed watching.

[@pwhitewick]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jameswalksinhistory3848]

Great video Paul -I have also posted on my FB History group

[@Jimthetyreman]

WOW, Paul. One of your best videos yet!! Loved it! More of the same, please. No pressure!!!!!!! 🤣

[@grahamfoster6222]

Excellent video. Always been i interested in it as it happened the day before l was born

[@stuartscott7097]

My father took part in some of the identification parades for the investigation into this. At the time he worked opposite Aylesbury Police Station, which was taken over by the Flying Squad. When they needed bodies for the ID parade, the Inspector who usually ran the Police Station just wandered across the road and persuaded men, including my father, to take part.

[@highpath4776]

was he identified as one of the gang though ?

[@stuartscott7097]

@@highpath4776 He managed to get away with that!

[@barbarahalkyard1901]

My dad was one of the guards .

[@doncoffey5820]

Brilliant as usual Paul.

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Don

[@cedarcam]

Well presented video of a robbery I have always been fascinated by. As someone said remember when the BBC used to make programmes like this.

[@timeast6412]

Excellent video Paul,I feel slightly connected to this because in the early hours of that day,Mum Dad and two kids,(me and my sister)were going on holiday and the car was stopped by a policeman with a torch on our way through that area.It was quite exciting for a 14 year old lad. Years later I moved to West Wales and there was a business man called Reynolds who reputedly had come into a large sum of money. I always wondered if he was connected but never dared to ask. What next? A piece about the Operation Julie investigation in Tregaron,which had occurred some years before I moved to that area,although some minor characters were still around.

[@briskyoungploughboy]

Yes, another episode where the sentences were dubiously disproportional to the crime

[@thorfrun8959]

Very well told, i enjoyed that. Does Kate have her own channel?

[@pwhitewick]

Watch this space.

[@stuartbridger5177]

Nice one Paul, one of those 1960's crimes that is legendary, as you said the storey became bigger than the crime.. Part of the haul was found on Leith Hill in Surrey close to where I grew up.

[@jimmorris6395]

I could write a book about that money and what it represented.

[@lincolncityful1]

Interesting thanks Paul..

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

That timing of the outro delivery! :O

[@nickmendes5458]

The 1950s Museum just outside Denbigh has a display on the Great Train Robbery along with the truck that was used - worth a visit if you're in the area

[@markthompson3577]

the first Great Train robbery ......great video Paul......

[@polymath9372]

Didn't have the pathos of Woodcock, the devoted employee of E H Harriman, in _Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,_ who kept being blown up!

[@highpath4776]

Dont think it was, wasnt something nicked off a train in victorian times ?

[@GrahamWalters]

Ronnie Biggs was invited onto an RN frigate (HMS Danae) when it visited Ri de Janeiro by a bunch of matelots, questions were even asked in the HOP, how junior rates were able to invite people on board without the officers knowledge or permission!

[@pwhitewick]

Was that where there was an attempted abductio of him?

[@GrahamWalters]

@@pwhitewick No that was elsewhere, he made it off the ship before the authorities knew he was onboard.

[@pwhitewick]

@@GrahamWalters bizarre that he would go!

[@GrahamWalters]

@@pwhitewick I think the full story was that he was in a bar, and one of the crew recognised him, more joined in, eventually after a few too many, they invited him onboard.

[@jimmorris6395]

Thanks!

[@Nick-13]

Extremely interesting - I've probably crossed that bridge many time on my trip from Manchester to London !

[@pwhitewick]

Undoubtable yep.

[@andrewdarley8988]

Another small detail: Although the loco was later to be reunbered and classified as a type 40 at the time it was carrying its originalk 3-digit number and known as an Englisf Electric Type 4. Always been interested in this story as I knew the propriators of Jones Sand on whose land the mailbags were unloaded (my father worked for them)

[@katesmith5767]

We did go into much more detail about the loco (trains are much more my thing than Paul’s) but in order to keep the edit sharp, it was left behind. Maybe I should make a little video about it when I finally get my channel going?

[@pwhitewick]

1000% yes!!!!

[@davidberlanny3308]

Very professionally put together, great combination with Kate and the others. I remember the film Buster with Phil Collins which was of course just light entertainment. Biggs must have occupied dozens and dozens of newspaper columns over the years more than perhaps the robbery. What I don't understand is why they needed to take the money to London in the first place. Anyway very enjoyable video, well done!!

[@pwhitewick]

Yep, pretty sure I watched that as a kid too

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Foe awhile, Biggs worked at Melbourne Australia television station GTV 9 as a carpenter.

[@tonyrobinson362]

Welldone as a retired engineman well worth a look thankyou.

[@thesteelrodent1796]

the Phil Collins movie about this heist is the only one I remember watching when I was much younger (it's probably not as good as I remember, but back then it was decent), but I recall they hinted that the old retired guy they got to drive the train had only learned vacuum brakes and the train had pneumatic brakes, so they tossed him aside and got Mills to drive the train. How much of that is true I have no idea, since it's not mentioned anywhere who the retired driver was

[@maryearll3359]

The name of the film was ' Buster '. Starred Phil Collins, Julie Walters, Sheila Hancock, Larry Lamb et al.Brilliant film, it seemed to run fairly closely with the facts. The robbers were regarded as cheeky heroes.

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

@@maryearll3359 a more accurate film of the events is 'Robbery'. It has been on TV, I saw it twice, but I've not seen in listed for decades.

[@throttlegalsmagazineaustra7361]

The only reason Ronnie Biggs was included in the gang was he knew the old bloke who could drive a train. He certainly wasn't "a mastermind".

[@paulashby446]

​@@CaseyJonesNumber1 there was a good 2 parter about 10 years ago

[@cedarcam]

@@CaseyJonesNumber1 Robbery is the most accurate film in my opinion, apart from the isolation switch being thrown by driver Jack Mills the rest is how it was done including the train passing on the other line which, not shown in the film, almost hit some robbers who were trying to get into the other side of the mail van.

[@Hebbers]

Bin bag blowing in the breeze. Class!

[@pwhitewick]

I try

[@stephenbesley3177]

One of the iconic British crimes of the '60s that we heard about for years and years as Ronny Biggs stayed on the run. Others included the Kray Twins but most notoriously the Myra Hindley murders.

[@phillwainewright4221]

5:00 - Is that a nod to Geoff Marshall? Nice touch, Paul.

[@pwhitewick]

Always.

[@martindeane9631]

My train geek son reckons that you filmed at Cheddington Station on a Saturday!

[@pwhitewick]

He is right!

[@martindeane9631]

@@pwhitewick It was the Chiltern Class 68 light engine at 10:07 that gave it away. Apparently!

[@katesmith5767]

That’s awesome, I got quite excited by the light loco 68 😂

[@robertdonaldson6584]

I am fiddling "Swinging on a Gate" on my Violin.

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Nice little mini documentary. Although we think major crimes are not nice, in this case too the driver was badly treated, sadly, a man just doing his job, we are fascinated by this story. Not many talk of the the locomotive, a class 40 built about 1960, number D326 was plagued with bad luck. There were many accidents and incidents with this actual loco and finally withdrawn by British Rail and renumbered as 40126 and scrapped in 1984.

[@katesmith5767]

We did record a good section about the loco, but it didn’t make the edit. I might actually make a video about it if and when I finally set up my own KZbin channel

[@ROCKINGMAN]

@@katesmith5767 I'd like to see that.

[@allanfoster6965]

In the words of Peter Cook. 'There was no train robbed. There is no missing train. Rather it was the contents of said train that were removed. Not the train itself. . . 😅😅😅

[@sianwarwick633]

Dramatic start. I like it 👌. And finish. Too bad i didn’t know who Charlie Wilson was, in Canada

[@a11csc]

nice one

[@grahammason8407]

The security officer was known as "The Ulsterman" and his true identity has never been revealed although 2 names have been mentioned. The Ulsterman informed the gang to change the day of the robbery as the original train had way less money.

[@jimmorris6395]

He didn't exist.

[@anthonyorafferty5632]

@@jimmorris6395 Always the best exit strategy.

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

10:09 thought I'd suddenly somehow switched to one of Geoff Marshall's videos for a moment! 😄