8 August 2012
- CHOO -
Thursday,
August 8, 1963.
: The
Great Train Robbery in England occurs, in which £2.6m is stolen in used,
untraceable bank notes.
For 125 years, the The Post Office train, known as the Up Special, had run its nightly service. On 8 August 1963, the train was carrying over 26 million pounds ($AU75.5 million) in used, untraceable bank notes destined for burning at the Bank of England, when it was stopped by a red light at 3:15am local time in Buckinghamshire. Police investigators later found that the signals had been tampered with and telephone wires had been cut. After the train was stopped, thieves attacked driver Jack Mills, 58, with an iron bar, uncoupled the engine and front two carriages and drove them to Bridego Railway Bridge, Ledburn, near Mentmore. There they loaded 120 mail and money bags into a waiting truck.
13 of the thieves were caught and tried six months later. Ronnie Biggs became the best known of the criminals when he escaped from prison and headed for Brazil, remaining free for 28 years. He returned to England needing medical treatment, but knowing he would be arrested as soon as he arrived back in his home country. Biggs is still serving out his sentence: despite two heart attacks, he has not received any leniency or a reduced sentence.
For 125 years, the The Post Office train, known as the Up Special, had run its nightly service. On 8 August 1963, the train was carrying over 26 million pounds ($AU75.5 million) in used, untraceable bank notes destined for burning at the Bank of England, when it was stopped by a red light at 3:15am local time in Buckinghamshire. Police investigators later found that the signals had been tampered with and telephone wires had been cut. After the train was stopped, thieves attacked driver Jack Mills, 58, with an iron bar, uncoupled the engine and front two carriages and drove them to Bridego Railway Bridge, Ledburn, near Mentmore. There they loaded 120 mail and money bags into a waiting truck.
13 of the thieves were caught and tried six months later. Ronnie Biggs became the best known of the criminals when he escaped from prison and headed for Brazil, remaining free for 28 years. He returned to England needing medical treatment, but knowing he would be arrested as soon as he arrived back in his home country. Biggs is still serving out his sentence: despite two heart attacks, he has not received any leniency or a reduced sentence.
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