![]() The train consisted of 12 carriages and carried 72 Post Office staff who sorted mail during the journey. The train was hauled by English Electric Type 4 (later Class 40) diesel-electric locomotive D326 (later 40 126). It was scheduled to arrive at Euston at 04:00 the following morning. Royal Mail train Īt 18:50 on Wednesday 7 August 1963, the travelling post office (TPO) "Up Special" train set off from Glasgow Central station en route to Euston Station in London. The final gang who took part in the raid comprised a total of sixteen men. Other associates (including Ronnie Biggs, a man Reynolds had previously met in jail) were added as the organisation evolved. This group also included Roger Cordrey, a man who was a specialist in this field and knew how to rig the track-side signals to stop the train. This group included Tommy Wisbey, Bob Welch, and Jim Hussey, who were already 'accomplished train robbers'. This gang, although very successful in the criminal underworld, had virtually no experience in stopping and robbing trains, so it was agreed to enlist the help of another London gang called The South Coast Raiders. The raid was devised over a period of months by a core team: Goody and Edwards along with Bruce Reynolds, and Charlie Wilson, with Reynolds assuming the role of "mastermind". The plan to intercept and rob the overnight Glasgow to London mail train was based on information from an unnamed senior security officer within Royal Mail who had detailed knowledge of the amounts of money carried he was introduced to two of the criminals who would carry out the raid-Gordon Goody and Buster Edwards-by a London solicitor's clerk, Brian Field. ( August 2011) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. This section needs additional citations for verification. The ringleaders were sentenced to 30 years in prison. The police found this hideout, and incriminating evidence, a monopoly board with fingerprints, led to the eventual arrest and conviction of most of the gang. After the robbery, the gang hid at Leatherslade Farm. Mills never overcame the trauma of the robbery. He retired in 1967 and died in 1970 due to an unrelated illness. ![]() After his partial recovery, Mills returned to work doing light duties. The gang did not use any firearms, though Jack Mills, the train driver, was beaten over the head with a metal bar and suffered serious head injuries. The bulk of the stolen money has never been recovered. With careful planning based on inside information from an individual known as "The Ulsterman", whose real identity has never been established, the robbers escaped with over £2.61 million. A 16th man, an unnamed retired train driver, was also present. Other gang members included Gordon Goody, Buster Edwards, Charlie Wilson, Roy James, John Daly, Jimmy White, Ronnie Biggs, Tommy Wisbey, Jim Hussey, Bob Welch and Roger Cordrey, as well as three men known only as numbers "1", "2" and "3" two were later identified as Harry Smith and Danny Pembroke. Īfter tampering with the lineside signals to bring the train to a halt, a gang of 15, led by Bruce Reynolds, attacked the train. ![]() The Great Train Robbery was the robbery of £2.61 million (calculated to present-day value of £58 million), from a Royal Mail train heading from Glasgow to London on the West Coast Main Line in the early hours of 8 August 1963 at Bridego Railway Bridge, Ledburn, near Mentmore in Buckinghamshire, England. 11 men sentenced (Bill Boal and Lennie Field later exonerated) to terms up to 30 years
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