The Great Train Robbery

We welcomed Ian Bosket to our April meeting to give a talk on The Great Train Robbery.

The robbery involved Wednesday 7 August’s 18:50 Glasgow Central - Euston postal service, which was also used to convey used banknotes for replacement. In the 1960s August Bank Holiday was the first Monday of the month. This would be a day when a lot of cash changed hands. The train was hauled by D326 (40126), and consisted of 12 coaches. A brake vehicle was next to the locomotive, followed by a high value packages coach and TPO coaches.

Ian gave background information regarding the robbers, and explained how they tampered with signals to stop the train by the simple expedient of placing a mask over a green signal and illuminating the red one with batteries.

Driver Jack Mills was the driver of D326 south of Crewe in the early hours of 8 August, with David Whitby as the second man. They were overcome by the robbers and Mills was hit over the head with a cosh. The loco and front 2 coaches were detached from the train to be taken forward to Bridego Bridge (now Mentmore Bridge) about ½ mile south of where the train had been stopped. The gang had recruited a retired driver to perform this task, but he was unable to so as he had no experience of main line diesels. Mills was forced to drive the train to the point where 120 of the bags containing the used banknotes were unloaded. 8 were left on the train as time was moving on and a northbound train was due.

Ian gave details of the gang’s get away plans and the police investigation, and their fate.

Driver Mills and David Whitby are commemorated on a plaque on Platform 12 at Crewe station. 66126 now carries the nameplate Driver Jack Mills that was applied to 90036. Both Mills and Whitby are also commemorated by having roads in Crewe named after them.

Our thanks to Ian for his informative presentation and passing on his extensive knowledge of the subject.