17 documented events · 8 mapped locations · documented resolution
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang used a false signal to stop the Royal Mail’s Glasgow-to-London Travelling Post Office train at Sears Crossing. After assaulting driver Jack Mills and secondman David Whitby, the robbers moved...
In the early hours of 8 August 1963, a gang used a false signal to stop the Royal Mail’s Glasgow-to-London Travelling Post Office train at Sears Crossing. After assaulting driver Jack Mills and secondman David Whitby, the robbers moved the locomotive and two high-value carriages to Bridego Bridge and removed about 120 sacks containing roughly £2.6 million. Their abandoned hideout at Leatherslade Farm yielded fingerprints and postal material that drove arrests and convictions, although several participants evaded capture for years and most of the money was never recovered.
Case record
Bruce Reynolds, identified as the gang's principal organiser
Recent developments
Recent reporting and official developments, labeled by source and verification status.
May 7, 2026 · BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds released a six-part Gangster series hosted by Daniel Mays, using previously unheard Ronnie Biggs recordings and interviews to examine his role in the robbery, escape, decades as a fugitive and enduring public mythology.
Context
This is a biographical media retrospective, not a new evidentiary development or revision of the convictions.
The scale
Key figures are drawn from the published case record.
The case sequence
This selection follows the major progression of the case from its earliest documented event through the latest material development.
See all 8 mapped locations →Aug 7, 1963
At about 6:50 p.m., the Glasgow-to-Euston Travelling Post Office service left Glasgow Central. Because of the Scottish bank-holiday period, its High Value Package carriage held an unusually large cash consignment.
Aug 8, 1963
The robbers drove to the rented farm, divided much of the proceeds and remained there briefly. Items later left behind created the investigation's most important forensic scene.
Jan 20, 1964
Proceedings began before Mr Justice Edmund Davies. The prosecution relied heavily on fingerprints and other links to the farm, alongside evidence tracing money and preparations.
Apr 1, 1966
White was arrested after nearly three years at large and later received an 18-year sentence.
Nov 1, 1968
Reynolds was captured in England after more than five years at large.
Aug 6, 2009
Biggs was released on compassionate grounds because of severe illness, four years before his death.
How the record develops
At about 6:50 p.m., the Glasgow-to-Euston Travelling Post Office service left Glasgow Central. Because of the Scottish bank-holiday period, its High Value Package carriage held an unusually large cash consignment.
White was arrested after nearly three years at large and later received an 18-year sentence.
Biggs was released on compassionate grounds because of severe illness, four years before his death.
Biggs was released on compassionate grounds because of severe illness, four years before his death.
Explore the visual record →Go deeper
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