No doubt some fools will be getting misty eyed about the passing of a nasty small time crook today. Better we all remember Driver Jack Mills, whose career and life were ruined after he was bludgeoned with an iron bar by a gang of thugs...
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RIP Jack Mills
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TheKnightWho
Established Member
It's quite funny - the only things I've heard today are people complaining about other people being sad that Ronnie Biggs has died. Funnily enough, I've not heard anyone actually say anything along those lines.
MidnightFlyer
Veteran Member
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One of the comments on the above:
'Robbed a train once. Got caught once. Left a man for dead. What a legend.'
I have no words for that...
Edit: Apparently that comment was sarcastic. It had better be!
'Robbed a train once. Got caught once. Left a man for dead. What a legend.'
I have no words for that...
Edit: Apparently that comment was sarcastic. It had better be!
Blimey, if it wasn't sarcastic then the person who said it is one messed up individual!
TheKnightWho
Established Member
I'm not sure 1,181 people are particularly representative. If it had 100k+ likes I might understand, but it's pretty disingenuous to make out like the majority of people are making him out to be some sort of hero.
ralphchadkirk
Established Member
I know sarcasm doesn't come across clearly in print, but that was clearly sarcastic!
Tiny Tim
Member
It's a commonly believed myth that the Great Train Robbery was a well-organised crime. In reality it was a shambles; The retired train driver hired by the thieves wasn't familiar with the loco, and Mills was no use as he had already been severely injured. Even if the gang's hideout hadn't been found, the police had a very good idea who was behind the robbery right from the start. Having said that, the police investigation was almost as inept as the robbery itself. At least four members of the gang got away, including the retired train driver. The mysterious 'Ulsterman' who provided the inside information was never caught. Most of the money disappeared without trace. Jack Mills was the victim of common, violent, criminals, there's nothing romantic or clever about this crime or the people who committed it.
Indeed. I have never really understood why the robbery has generated such interest. Was it the medai frenzy? Is it because TV was just becoming commonplace, so it was the first big robbery to be featured in pictures on the gogglebox? Is it because of the amount of money that was thought to have been taken? I am mystified.
But as you say, it wasn't very well organised at all.
neonison
Member
Echoing all of the comments about glorification of the crime and the sad demise of Jack Mills I have a railway-related question.
In last evening's TV drama as in the book by Stewart Richards & Nick Russell-Pavier there is mention of a "Dwarf Signal" playing a key role.
I thought I was reasonably familiar with BR signalling but what's a Dwarf Signal?
In last evening's TV drama as in the book by Stewart Richards & Nick Russell-Pavier there is mention of a "Dwarf Signal" playing a key role.
I thought I was reasonably familiar with BR signalling but what's a Dwarf Signal?
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