The Great Train Robbery

Season

2013

7.3

A two-part drama which portrays The Great Train Robbery of 8 August 1963, firstly from the point of view of the robbers and then from the point of view of the police who set out to identify and catch the robbers.

Episode List

S1 • E1

A Robber's Tale

Following a vicious attack on a wages van at Heathrow airport in November 1962 the gang concerned are disappointed that the haul is less than expected and their leader, Bruce Reynolds, despite his wife's request that he eschews crime, is greedy for a bigger heist. This comes about when an anonymous Ulsterman alerts the gang to the Glasgow to Euston mail train, said to be carrying a million pounds. Recruiting more villains Reynolds begins his meticulous plan to halt the train with false signals at a lonely Buckinghamshire crossing and, on August 8 1963, a night later than planned, the robbery takes place. Despite Reynolds' desire to play down violence train driver Jack Mills is injured and the getaway bungled as the gang, dressed as soldiers, hole up in a farmhouse. The haul is also far more than they imagined and Reynolds is conscious that it will be harder to dispose of as the robbers go their separate ways. Soon afterwards Reynolds sees in a newspaper headline that he is a suspect and a wanted man.

S1 • E2

A Copper's Tale

Four days after the robbery Home Secretary Brooke puts Flying Squad Chief Superintendent Tommy Butler in charge of the case. Though a dour loner and not a popular colleague he assembles an efficient team including Inspector Frank Williams, who knows Reynolds of old and places him high on his suspect list, and Sergeant Jack Slipper. The discovery of a suitcase containing stolen notes leads to the first arrest whilst a tip-off takes Butler to the farmhouse HQ and a mass of forensic evidence. This begins to yield results despite Butler's superiors' Wanted poster campaign which encourages hoax callers and sends the criminals into hiding. Soon, however, Williams' work with his informants based on his suspect list starts to reel in the robbers and the cash. In January 1964 most of them stand trial and three months later receive sentences of thirty years. The police team celebrates but not Butler who, though due for retirement, stays on until the job is completed and, three years on, arrests the last gang member at large, Bruce Reynolds.