A brace of 'spiffing good books......

Post by **Who2** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:33 pm

Bob Ryans' Signal Red:

Bruce Reynolds' Crossing the Line:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_nos ... line&ajr=0

'Read the books and buy the authors a drink over a chat......

Post by **Bullet Magnet** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 5:44 pm

The image on the book cover Signal Red, is one of the icon's of the 60's.
My mother also learned to drive in and owned an Austin A35, as seen on the left..

I had a great admiration for the Train Robbers, in the plan and execution of said plan. Simple AND Effective.
Infact, I find it hard to imagine why no one else had thought about doing the Great train robbery before !

They had the balls to do this un armed, A Victimless crime if ever there was one.

My questions are..
Why they didn't keep their heads down a bit longer at the farmhouse ?

Or why not torch the house when they left in such a hurry.?
maybe all of their lives would have been different and they could have enjoyed the money a lot more.
The Police would not have know who commited the robbery without the fingerprints they got from the house..

I did a quick recap on the robbery, and didn't realise there were 15 men involved !
The only names I remember were Ronnie Biggs, Bruce Reynolds , Buster Edwards, Charlie Wilson, Jimmy White and Gordon Goody

Hard to imagine that 2.6 million back then is now worth 50 million in todays money. . Daylight Robbery when you think about it in terms of "inflation"... Who's robbing who ? you may well ask yourself...

Post by **jewel** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 6:17 pm

Is ronnie Biggs still hanging on?

Post by **Bullet Magnet** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 6:23 pm

He was alive in November..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8886300 ... bbery.html

I have no idea what he has to apologise for though ? . . .

"But there is nothing I can say or do that will wind the clock back. I have no magical Tardis, as much as I would like one."

Yeah, right... forget it ever happend.

but then, do you belive all you read ??

Post by **Who2** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:19 pm

"But there is nothing I can say or do that will wind the clock back. I have no magical Tardis, as much as I would like one."

Yeah, right... forget it ever happend.

but then, do you belive all you read ?

It's your lucky night, my old 'china......I have a Tardis.....
Having just had a chat with the 'Napoleon of Crime 'The Brain 'The Mastermind he has offered to answer your questions regarding The Train, when he finishes watching Uncle Fred [brown bread] on the brinks-mat......

ps: about 1O minutes

Post by **Bullet Magnet** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:42 pm

Brinks Mat.. 26 million more or less twenty years later.
Inside Job.. Mr Black....

Would love to know how the plan of the GTR went wrong..please..

Post by **Brian Yare** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:49 pm

I don't think that there is any such thing as a victim-less crime, although some victime are hurt more than others. If the GTR stole £2.6M then someone, somewhere must have lost out.

Post by **Who2** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:57 pm

double post

Post by **Who2** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:58 pm

Question No 1: Why they didn't keep their heads down a bit longer at the farmhouse ?
Answer BRR: " If you read the book, you will find that the police had advised the press that they were searching every farm-house within a radius of 3O miles from Bridego Bridge.
Question NO 2: Or why not torch the house when they left in such a hurry.?
Answer BRR: "Brian Field the solicitor acting for the purchase of Leatherslade Farm was the weak link in the planning of the robbery.
Once the farm was discovered 'as it certainly would have been' if it had been torched, Police interrogation of Brian Field would have certainly led him to have cooperated fully to the authorities the persons that he was acting for.
Bruce Richard Reynolds 12/2011
"So there you go from the horses mouth, next read the book and buy him a drink appertaining any more questions.......

'somewhere in Egypt......

Post by **Winged Isis** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:01 pm

Agreed, and the railway staff must have been traumatised by their experience, wondering what would happen to them.

Post by **Bullet Magnet** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:20 pm

Thank you both for the answers.

Here's something that's odd. Why would the Rozzers have announced that they were searching every farmhouse in a 30 mile radius to the press ?

Keeping quiet and just getting on with the farmhuose searches would have yeilded better results for them, catching the robbers red-handed. Thats common sense.

Anyhow, Bruce and co, legend. . I take my hat off to you . You're welcome to a drink anytime..
Shame things didn't end differently, but without trying you would never have known...

The Train Staff ?? Probably the most exciting night of their lives ever, and made them into local legends which kept them in free drinks for months !!

Every cloud and all that . .

Post by **Who2** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:24 pm

An old lags Xmas ditty. BRR author unknown:
"It was Christmas Day in Wandsworth.
The 'Duff was steaming hot!
When in came Lou, the landing screw and, scoffed the f*****g lot".
Happy Xmas, BRR.......

Post by **Bullet Magnet** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:28 pm

Thank you for that BRR..

Happy Xmas to you as well.. God Bless..

Post by **JOJO** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:36 pm

Winged Isis wrote:Agreed, and the railway staff must have been traumatised by their experience, wondering what would happen to them.

I was under the impression that one of the Railway drivers was severely beaten?Perhaps I am wrong?

Post by **timetraveller** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 12:24 am

Brian Yare wrote:I don't think that there is any such thing as a victim-less crime, although some victime are hurt more than others. If the GTR stole £2.6M then someone, somewhere must have lost out.

If memory serves the GTR was NOT a victimless crime. The train driver was whacked over the head and was apparently never the same again. I think he died a couple of years later.

Post by **Mad Dilys** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 6:16 am

It's interesting that I have heard three very different accounts of Bruce's arrest on his return to the UK.
Two different account from two different policemen and one from Bruce!

I'm afraid I believe Bruce, on the grounds that he at least was indisputably there at the time.

Post by **Winged Isis** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 6:58 am

timetraveller wrote:If memory serves the GTR was NOT a victimless crime. The train driver was whacked over the head and was apparently never the same again. I think he died a couple of years later.

Thanks, tt, that was the thought behind my post, but didn't have time to research.

Post by **Who2** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 8:04 am

Driver Jack Mills was unnecessarily hit once, on his fall to the floor he hit his head against the chassis but was able to drive the train to bridego bridge he died seven years later of leukemia and due to public media donations ended up richer than the gang......

Post by **Bullet Magnet** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 8:27 am

Exactly Dr !!

I re-iterate, A Victim less crime . . and NO weapons. .

Post by **Mad Dilys** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 11:22 am

To be pedantic may I ask if Jack Mills was hit with a fist or a cosh of some sort?

A cosh, a lump of wood or whatever can be a weapon - as can a professional boxer's fist outside the ring.