1. THE GREAT TRAIN
ROBBERY OF 1963
A Presentation by:
Ruchir Shukla
PGDM A 42
SIMSR
17/11/2011 Ruchir Shukla 1
2. How the thriller unfolds…
• Introduction
• Robbers, informants and associates
• And the action begins…
• Enter Tommy Butler
• The Aftermath of the Great Train Robbery
17/11/2011 Ruchir Shukla 2
3. Introduction
Date of crime : August 8, 1963
Amount Stolen : £2.6 million
Place of crime : Buckinghamshire, England
Weapons used : No guns, no knives….
Only a few rods !
17/11/2011 Ruchir Shukla 3
4. Robbers, informants and associates
Bruce Reynolds
• Unofficial leader of the gang
• Undoubtedly, the brains behind the robbery
Douglas Gordon Goody
• Deputy Leader
• Key organizer
17/11/2011 Ruchir Shukla 4
5. Robbers, informants and associates
Charles Frederick (Charlie) Wilson
• “Treasurer”
• Most popular gang member
Brian Arthur Field
• Organised the mock purchase of
Leatherslade Farm, the gang's hideout
• Informant
17/11/2011 Ruchir Shukla 5
6. And the action begins…
• The “Ulsterman” –
Brian Field – Bruce
Reynolds
• The Royal Mail train:
Travelling Post Office
(TPO) “Up Special”
Train from Glasgow,
Scotland to Euston,
England.
17/11/2011 Ruchir Shukla 6
7. Setting the ground…
• Smartly, tampered with signal
lights
A problem:
• Take the train to the place of
robbery. How? Picture:
It’s New engine for the gang’s View towards
driver!!! 'Sears Crossing'
where the robbers
took control of the
train
17/11/2011 Ruchir Shukla 7
8. The Loot…
• At Bridego bridge the train was stopped
and the robbers' assault force attacked
the High Value Packages (HVP) carriage
• The bulk of the haul was in £1 notes and
£5 notes (both the older white note and
the newer blue note which was half its
size). There were also 10 shilling notes
and Irish and Scottish money
17/11/2011 Ruchir Shukla 8
9. Enter Tommy Butler
• A shrewd Scotland yard detective
• “Don’t move till 30 minutes, or else…”
• Discovery of the Leatherslade farm
• All but three men caught, money recovered – very less
17/11/2011 Ruchir Shukla 9
10. The Aftermath…
• Yes, they pulled of a great robbery, but sacrificed some
of the best years of their lives
• Most of the money was spent in legal activities, part of
was stolen from them (wow !!!), Charlie Wilson was
found shot dead in 1990…
• The driver suffered due to trauma for the rest of his life
• Wrong deeds never bring true, ever-lasting happiness;
life comes only once, live it the right way…
17/11/2011 Ruchir Shukla 10