Ebook: The Great Train Robbery, the Second Gang. The South Coast Raiders

The names of Bruce Reynolds, Buster Edwards, and Ronnie Biggs have become synonymous with the Great Train Robbery. But a major contributor solved the question of stopping the train - and he came from another firm. When the question of stopping the train was raised, Buster thought he might know someone . . . who knew someone. A link was made and two 'firms' joined forces, though the recent claim that Roger Cordrey was suggested to Buster grossly over-simplifies the dynamics of the two firms joining.

This, the second in a series of essays looking at the Great Train Robbery, plots the known history of the second firm of Roger Cordrey, Bobby Welch, Tommy Wisbey and others who joined up with the main firm to rob the train. They were loosely called The South Coast Raiders and had already had some success with train raids on the southern rails.

The narrative traces what is known of their raids, looking at contemporary reports, together with what was discussed in later years. Roger...