Secrets Of Scotland Yard xx-xx-xx xxx Crime On The Railway

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Secrets Of Scotland Yard – Crime On The Railway"

Episode Information:

• Title: Secrets Of Scotland Yard – Crime On The Railway
• Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
• Release Date: July 7, 2025
• Description: Delving into the golden era of radio, this episode explores the intricate world of railway crimes, unraveling the methods of cunning criminals and the relentless efforts of Scotland Yard to curb these offenses.

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Introduction to Railway Crime

The episode opens with the host, Inspector, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration of criminal activities that have historically plagued the railway systems. Challenging the common phrase "off the rails," Inspector clarifies, “[01:13] ...off the rails is usually taken as a sign of being not quite straight. I'm using the term, however, in quite a different sense. Today I'm going to tell you something about criminals who, when they're off the rails, are on the rails.” This intriguing twist hints at the dual nature of railway operations and the lurking dangers within.

The Growing Threat of Railway Robbery

Detective highlights a staggering increase in railway thefts, comparing historical and contemporary figures: “[02:29] In 1938, claims against the railways for stolen goods costing about £180,000. Today, similar claims are costing over two and a half million pounds a year.” This significant rise underscores the escalating challenge faced by railway authorities in safeguarding their assets.

The discussion delves into the most commonly stolen items, with Officer noting, “[02:54] Theft of tobacco, wine, spirits, textiles, boots, and shoes.” These items, cherished in the black market, demand extensive resources from over 1,000 railway officials dedicated to detective work.

Organized Gangs and Sophisticated Methods

Inspector elaborates on the organized nature of railway thefts: “[03:53] Pilferage has ceased to be a proper description of railway thieving. Wholesale looting is the only term appropriate.” Approximately 60% of these crimes are orchestrated by small gangs, typically comprising no more than six members. These groups employ ever-evolving tactics to outsmart law enforcement, demonstrating a cat-and-mouse dynamic between criminals and the railway police.

A vivid narrative unfolds as Inspector recounts a recent heist on the Nottingham to Chesterfield line: “[04:39] ...they pushed open the door and threw down the embankment over a million cigarettes packed neatly in cartons.” The precision and professionalism of the gang’s operation highlight their deep understanding of railway schedules and vulnerabilities.

High-Stakes Mailbag Robberies

The episode doesn't shy away from discussing some of the most audacious crimes, such as mailbag thefts. Inspector shares alarming cases, including a £10,000 mailbag theft from a Glasgow Euston train that remains unsolved: “[15:33] Criminals are those who play for the high stakes and endeavor to rob His Majesty's mails.” Another case involved £40,000 in currency vanishing during transit, showcasing the boldness and ingenuity of these criminals.

Detective illustrates a particularly clever mailbag heist: “[16:41] The scene is one of the sorting vans on a world-famous night mail train... He made some excuse and moves on.” This intricate plan involved carefully selecting registered mail bags, substituting them with identical-looking ones, and executing the theft without immediate detection.

The Unsung Heroes: Railway Police

A pivotal segment honors the railway police, emphasizing their specialized training and cooperation with Scotland Yard: “[15:00] ...the railway police is a complete force of its own, charged with the particular responsibility of policing and protecting thousands of buildings and many thousands of miles owned by British railways.” The constant vigilance and strategic operations of these officers are crucial in combating railway crimes.

A heartwarming story features Constable Robert Cameron, who, after being captured and overcoming adversity, symbolizes the resilience and dedication of the railway police: “[13:43] ...he struggled free and crawled to a shunter's cabin. Today, Railway police constable Robert Cameron...”

Historical Context and Evolution of Railway Crime

Inspector provides a historical perspective, tracing railway crime back over a century: “[21:18] ...when a trip by train destroyed great events. Passengers traveled in open cars which today we would consider little better than trucks.” The narrative recounts one of the earliest recorded railway criminals, a pickpocket who exploited the chaos within train tunnels, only to be outsmarted by a company-employed detective: “[23:29] ...the detective employed by the company...”

This story serves as a testament to the enduring battle between railway authorities and persistent lawbreakers, highlighting the continuous need for innovation in security measures.

Everyday Pilferage and Low-Level Theft

Not all railway crimes are grandiose; many are the result of everyday pilferage. Charlie and Detective discuss minor thefts, such as an engine driver stealing coal to exchange for eggs: “[24:01] ...criminal further women, some of whom have sacrificed 30 to 40 years service and pension rights for thefts of soap, a packet of chocolate or a pair of stockings.” These small-scale thefts collectively pose a significant threat, with Detective revealing, “[24:50] ...only one in every 300 rail workers is found guilty of theft.”

Conclusion: Safeguarding Britain's Railways

Inspector wraps up the episode by reassuring listeners of the safety measures in place: “[25:01] After all, if everybody was just a little more careful, most of the cooks in this world would be looking for new ways of earning their living. And it would just help to avoid that temptation to go off the rails.” This closing remark emphasizes personal responsibility alongside institutional efforts in maintaining the integrity of Britain’s railways.

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Notable Quotes:

• Inspector [01:13]: “...off the rails is usually taken as a sign of being not quite straight. I'm using the term, however, in quite a different sense. Today I'm going to tell you something about criminals who, when they're off the rails, are on the rails.”
• Detective [02:29]: “In 1938, claims against the railways for stolen goods costing about £180,000. Today, similar claims are costing over two and a half million pounds a year.”
• Inspector [03:53]: “Pilferage has ceased to be a proper description of railway thieving. Wholesale looting is the only term appropriate.”
• Inspector [15:33]: “Criminals are those who play for the high stakes and endeavor to rob His Majesty's mails.”
• Inspector [25:01]: “After all, if everybody was just a little more careful, most of the cooks in this world would be looking for new ways of earning their living. And it would just help to avoid that temptation to go off the rails.”

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Final Thoughts: "Secrets Of Scotland Yard – Crime On The Railway" offers a compelling dive into the multifaceted world of railway crime during the Golden Age of Radio. Through engaging storytelling and detailed accounts of both grand heists and minor thefts, the episode highlights the relentless efforts of Scotland Yard and railway police in safeguarding one of Britain's most vital infrastructures. Listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced and the ingenious methods employed by both criminals and law enforcement, all woven seamlessly into the nostalgic ambiance of Old Time Radio.

Transcript

[Sam]

Sam, it's.

[John]

How do you do?

[Inspector]

This is Tidebrook.

[Detective]

You've probably heard the expression off the rails.

[Inspector]

It usually signifies that somebody has let the side down by descending to a little blackmailing or perhaps a touch of arson. In fact, going off the rails is usually taken as a sign of being not quite straight. I'm using the term, however, in quite a different sense Today I'm going to tell you something about criminals who, when they're off the rails, are on the rails. Perhaps that sounds a little ambiguous. Let me put it in a simpler way. This program is about the kind of crime and the kind of criminal who is most at home on the railway.

[Detective]

Let's start off this Secrets of Scotland.

[Inspector]

Yard program with a few facts about robbery on the railway.

[Detective]

In 1938, claims against the railways for stolen goods costing about £180,000. Today, similar claims are costing over two and a half million pounds a year. As an inspector of the railway police, that's not a fact I'm particularly proud about. It goes to prove that robbery on the railways is a growing business. Our job is to stop it growing.

[Officer]

Almost half the claims were for the.

[Detective]

Theft of tobacco, wine, spirits, textiles, boots and shoes.

[Officer]

Articles which have the greatest black market value.

[Detective]

Investigating them is taking up much of the working time of more than 1,000 railway officials.

[John]

Hello.

[Charlie]

What are you doing with that crate?

[John]

Hey.

[Detective]

Just moving in.

[Charlie]

Who's that to do with you? On a rail reporter?

[Detective]

Yes, sir.

[Charlie]

What's the badge of yours? I think you better come along.

[Inspector]

Pilferage has ceased to be a proper description of railway thieving. Wholesale looting is the only term appropriate. The railway police estimate that about 60% of the looting is carried out by organized gangs, usually not more than six in number. Scotland Yard has met cunning with cunning. But those who specialize in robbery on the railway are always up to new tricks. Now listen to this story. It occurred not so long ago. A good strain was puffing slowly up an incline on its run from Nottingham to Chesterfield. Standing by a plate laying hut at the crest of the hill, you might have seen a small gang of workmen. Apparently they were waiting for the train to pass before resuming work on the line.

[Charlie]

All right, chaps.

[Inspector]

It's the fifth van after the engine.

[Charlie]

Remember the fifth van, Charlie. Jim, wait till I give the word.

[John]

Jump.

[Detective]

Just while you rehearsed it.

[Charlie]

Okay, Jack.

[Jeff]

All right, Jeff. Okay, boys. Pass me a crowbar.

[Charlie]

All right now, go ahead.

[Jeff]

There we go. Ah, that's Scotty.

[John]

Now.

[Charlie]

Go on. Indigo.

[Inspector]

Once inside the van, which contained hundreds.

[Detective]

Of pounds Worth of cigarettes.

[Inspector]

The gang got to work as soon as the train left the tunnel. The they pushed open the door and threw down the embankment over a million cigarettes packed neatly in cartons. And here comes the organization.

[Charlie]

Waiting on the road.

[Inspector]

By the side of the embankment were a couple of lorries.

[Charlie]

All right boys, get behind. Go there. Light him up right away.

[Detective]

We didn't find the cigarettes were missing until the train was 100 miles further up the line. Obviously the men who boarded the train must have had a good idea of what was in the van and knew exactly where the train would slow down. And they calculated the whole job in such a way proving they were professionals.

[John]

At the game these men get away with.

[Detective]

Doesn't always go that way. Isn't a risk case. It took place a few months ago late one night in one of London's largest good yards, the Cricklewood siding.

[Charlie]

Hi. Anybody about?

[Detective]

Who's that?

[Inspector]

Evening watchman.

[John]

Evening mate.

[Detective]

Sorry to be so late, chum.

[Inspector]

I'm afraid you'll have to open up these gates.

[Detective]

What's the idea? It's half past 12.

[Inspector]

I know that, mate, but there's a.

[Detective]

Load of one of these vans in the sodium which is wanted extra special.

[Inspector]

And if we don't get it down to the box by 6 o' clock.

[Detective]

Tomorrow morning, somebody's going to lose a few thousand pounds. I have to see your papers. Ah, don't you worry. Everything's in order.

[Inspector]

Here, take a look at this.

[Detective]

It seems all right. You've got permission? Well, that's what it says.

[Charlie]

All right, I'll open up.

[Detective]

Well, don't be long about it.

[Charlie]

Come on then.

[John]

It.

[Charlie]

Hello, watchman. All right, all right, I'm coming. Come on now, open up these gates.

[Detective]

Now hold on a moment.

[Officer]

I've got some friends to see you.

[Detective]

Hello, John. Fancy meeting you.

[Charlie]

Look out, boys.

[Inspector]

Yes, it was the ruthers. The police to you and me. And as the inspector says, the boot was on the other foot.

[Detective]

The watchman felt suspicious about the whole.

[Inspector]

Thing and he contacted the railway police. He was right. They were stolen goods and the papers were forged. Seven men were picked up in the fight which followed. But the leader got away.

[Detective]

Of course, not all railroad robberies are as ambitious and organized as the two you've just heard about. The simplest and one of the most effective methods of looting has been for railway employees to stick false logos on parcels and packages in transit. London Portal readdressed parcels to his own home. A remodeling conspiracy at Waterloo station was broken up through the vigilance of an employee.

[Sam]

Oh, good morning.

[John]

Yeah.

[Detective]

I've got a couple of parcels for you.

[Sam]

Oh, shall I sign for them?

[Detective]

That's right, miss. Sign here.

[Sam]

My daughter's wedding. She's having such a lot of presents.

[Detective]

Yes, I noticed.

[Sam]

Bring them in here, will you? Thank the luck.

[John]

Come.

[Inspector]

Daughter's wedding. It's funny. I can understand her getting a mangle.

[Charlie]

But what's she doing with two dozen electric light lamps?

[Detective]

Don't seem to be the sort of.

[Inspector]

Wedding present she get. I wonder if there's something fishy going on.

[Detective]

I'm from wondering, if only a step further, to talking to the railway police about it. It was found that this was just one of the ways in which a very astute gang had been robbing the railways. It was not the only method they used. It was found that packages in transit had been redirected under other names to small stations, where they were later collected by members of a gang, one in a chauffeur's uniform. The final destination of the stolen woods was a flood in Soho, where the thieves operated in a quicksand, showroom and office. The flat was raided and the ringleaders.

[John]

Caught.

[Charlie]

Him head on the ground.

[Sam]

Who sent you?

[Detective]

Charlie.

[Sam]

Ah, that's all right. Come on in. Well, what do you want to say?

[Charlie]

Cigarettes ready, I said.

[Inspector]

Or was it better?

[Detective]

I think I've seen that enough. I have a search warrant here.

[Sam]

What's a gun?

[Detective]

This is not a game. This is a raid.

[Inspector]

Cigarettes, radio sets, chests of tea and other goods worth hundreds of pounds were recovered.

[Detective]

But the police knew that for a.

[Inspector]

Long period beforehand, the gang got away with much more than that. These modern highwaymen are certainly people of resource. But if you think you've heard the limit of their ingenuity, just wait and see. Before turning to the organization of the railway piece, let's take a few more examples of crime on the railway.

[Detective]

In a railway yard in Scotland at one time, whole truckloads of coal were systematically rerouted to the yard of a small merchant who was in the swim.

[Officer]

Four porters at Woking took advantage of a consignment to set up a nylon emporium and sell the stockings through station taxi drivers.

[Detective]

Railway police bore two holes in a wooden fence by a railway arch in Suffolk and watched loot worth £2,500 being carried into a thieves den. Nine men and a woman were convicted. One man had a puppy in a crate which began barking, and the police overheard him say, shut up. You'll have to get used to being here.

[Inspector]

Now listen to the story of Just an ordinary member of the railway police. He was on duty at a goods yard at Burton on Trent one dark evening. His name was Railway police Constable Robert Cameron.

[Charlie]

Hi there. Who you want? I'd like to take a look at that lorry, if you don't mind what order you've got.

[Detective]

I'm a member of the Railway police.

[John]

Yes.

[Charlie]

I don't care if you're a member.

[John]

Of the marines or an eye.

[Detective]

You'll still have to stop, I'm afraid.

[Charlie]

Oh, will I? Come on, boys. Tie him up and leave him in that shed over there.

[Inspector]

He feigned unconsciousness while he was dragged into a warehouse and tied up. When the thieves had gone, leaving the whiskey behind, he struggled free and crawled to a shunter's cabin. Today, Railway police constable Robert Cameron. Where's their British Empire medal? Perhaps the most amusing conclusion to any incident of pure pilferage was an occasion.

[Detective]

When a portrait crew danced into a.

[Inspector]

Mirror one Sunday and saw a man in a quiet corner of another platform undo his braces and turn slowly round and round. A chase down a lane followed until the man's trousers fell to the ground and he halted sheepishly in his underpants with ring upon ring of crisp tobacco stolen from a crate in the station wound round his middle.

[Detective]

These officers at Houston saw two men in port, his uniforms examining goods loaded on barrels ready for dispatch and knew that neither was employed in handling parcels traffic. While they watched one of the men remove labels from three barrels which the second man then transferred to a smaller barrow. This was ruled out to a point near the station cloak room. The man walked away, but returned a few minutes later with two other men who began loading the barrels into a waiting motor car. All were arrested. The barrels were worth £300.

[Inspector]

Before the British railways were nationalized. Each company maintained its own police force, led in many cases by ex members of Scotland Yard. Today the railway police is a complete force of its own, charged with the particular responsibility of policing and protecting thousands of buildings and many thousands of miles owned by British railways. The men who discharge this duty undergo a special training. They learn most of the tricks we've told you about today in this program. And they cooperate with the regular police force and Scotland Yard to put a stop to every form of crime on the railways.

[Detective]

Perhaps the most unpopular of all railway.

[Inspector]

Criminals are those who play for the high stakes and endeavor to rob His Majesty's mails.

[Officer]

Of course there were some classic mailbag robberies of the past. But today's stories read like fiction. A 10,000 pound mailbag theft last year from a Glasgow Euston train remains unsolved. The empty bags were found on an embankment 70 yards away. The disappearance of nearly £40,000 in £5 and £1 notes in transit between a city bank and Scotland is still being investigated. A litter bag containing 6,000 pounds vanished during a 60 minute road and rail.

[Detective]

Journey between Liverpool and Wigan.

[Officer]

And when a packet which contained £2,000 for a Manchester bank was opened, the contents had miraculously changed to wooden blocks.

[Detective]

To be strictly accurate, the theft of.

[Officer]

Mailbags comes under the general post office and is not really the railway's responsibility. But it's their worry all the same. Here's the story of one of the most classic of mailbag robberies of all.

[Inspector]

The scene is one of the sorting vans on a world famous night mail train leaving Euston station in London every evening just before midnight. It reaches Scotland the following morning. While most of Britain is asleep, this train speeds through the heart of the country. The nerve center of the train is the sorting band, where almost a hundred men are at work all night sorting Scottish mail picked up at London and dividing it up into the various regional areas so that when it reaches Scotland, it will be ready for distribution in the big Scottish cities by the second delivery that morning. Most of the men who work on this train have been in the service of the GPO for a number of years. But naturally, from time to time, there is a new face among them. Take tonight for instance. A young fellow over there at the.

[Detective]

Rack in the corner.

[Inspector]

He's only been on the job for a few weeks and he's just qualified to work on his own without the guidance of an older sorter.

[John]

Edinburgh, Aberdeen.

[Inspector]

Edinburgh. One by one, he sorts the postal.

[Detective]

Packets into the pigeonholes in front of him.

[Inspector]

Monotonous work, but still demanding all his attention. But tonight, this young sorter is not really thinking about his job. He's thinking about something else.

[John]

Inverness, Aberdeen. Or days when it's to keep. I must go. And then.

[Inspector]

Yes, five minutes to go and then wait for Bill.

[Charlie]

Wait for tables.

[Inspector]

Together with half of the sorters in the corridor, our young friend moves into the next car where a primitive canteen is set up and cups of tea are being poured out. He makes some excuse and moves on. Further down the car. Perhaps he's going to wash his hands. Or perhaps it has taken three months of plotting and planning to obtain that.

[Detective]

Key, the key to the van which.

[Inspector]

Contained the registered mail.

[John]

He worked quickly.

[Inspector]

Three bags and no more he took out. But those bags had been chosen carefully. The contents were Known to be negotiable banknotes, a rich prize. Now comes the cleverest side of the trick. Three other bags, in appearance precisely the same as the original registered mail bags, had been concealed by our friend in a suitcase which he had brought aboard the train. The exchange was made and the mail van locked up. Once again.

[Detective]

Everything seemed perfect.

[Inspector]

When the train came into Glasgow station, it looked as if nothing could go wrong.

[John]

Good evening. Good evening.

[Detective]

You are Robert Staunton, aren't you?

[John]

That's right.

[Detective]

I wonder if I can trouble you to come along to the office for a few minutes.

[John]

What do you want me for?

[Detective]

Just a few words. Bring that case along with you.

[John]

Yes, sir.

[Detective]

Come on in. Now, Mr. Staunton, would you mind opening up that case?

[John]

How do you know?

[Detective]

Well, this is the one question I cannot answer. You see, if I told you, you'd not believe me.

[Inspector]

And how did he know?

[Detective]

It was really very simple.

[Inspector]

But as you've learned from these programs, it's the simple things that make the crooks game a mugs game. Obviously, the railway realizes that GPO sorters on the trains, if they should have crooked disposition, have a number of opportunities for putting some original ideas into practice. For that reason, every new sorter while he's training is screened very thoroughly by the railway police or the gpo. Our friend Staunton and his companions took all the obvious precautions. Trouble was, one of the precautions was just a little too obvious. Mr. Staunton had given his address during the his training period as a lodging house in London. As a routine matter, the police checked up on his character with his landlady. His landlady, dear soul, had given him an excellent character and had mentioned there, as a matter of fact, that Staunton had frequent visits from his widowed mother.

[Detective]

The widowed mother was a bit of.

[Inspector]

Camouflage for Mr. Staunton to compact his companions. Unfortunately, in his original application for the job, Mr. Staunton has described himself as an orphan. Starting from that very small fact, the railway piece had spun a long line of thread which led eventually to the station master's office in Glasgow and the arrest of Staunton, just another crook who thought that the way to easy money was along the railway lines.

[Officer]

I'd like to add a historic note.

[Detective]

Of course, there has been crime on the railways ever since there were railways, which is well over a hundred years. Who was the first railway criminal? Well, no one could say for Shorty. But I can tell you about one of the very first men to realize the possibility of crime on the railways. And what happened to Him. It was long, long ago when a trip by train destroyed great events. Passengers traveled in open cars which today we would consider little better than trucks. The guard wore a top hat and the engine driver wore one too. The most unpleasant part of the journey was when the train came to a tunnel. There were no lights in the carriages. Worse still, there were no windows. So they soon filled up with smoke and grime. You could imagine the coughing and confusion. Well, it was this very confusion that gave our friend, a pioneer in his class, the great idea. You see, his profession was that of a pickpocket. And it occurred to him that never was there greater opportunity to practice his craft. Ran aboard one of these newfangled railroad trains. When it entered a long tunnel, he went about it very carefully. He studied the trains and the passengers from all angles and for some time pursued a most successful career. Everybody was far too concerned of their comfort to notice his activities and their steps were departed. It was far too late to do anything about it. Then at last the railing company decided that they have to take some action regarding the numerous complaints they were getting. To every poison there's an antidote and to every crime there's an answer. Well, just as usual, our friend the pickpocket boarded a train one day. Little knowing that he was followed by.

[Inspector]

A detective employed by the company.

[Detective]

Off went the train. They came to the tunnel and our friend prepared to go about his business. He turned his attention to the man sitting next to him. A big well dressed with simple looking gentleman whom he picked out as a likely looking victim. His hand was busy obstructing a solid looking watch from his pocket when suddenly there was a terrific roar of speed.

[Jeff]

And then a sudden flash of light.

[Detective]

And what he was doing, the engine driver had no further entered the panel than on a pre launched plan he reversed and come out again. And as for the simple looking gentleman there, you're right, he was the detective.

[John]

Ah dear.

[Detective]

The way of a pioneer was always a hard one. And our friend's case proves that there's no exception to the rule. As I told you, not all railway crime is quite so ambitious. In 50% of railway cases the word pilferage is applicable.

[Charlie]

There have been too many examples of.

[Detective]

Criminal further women, some of whom have sacrificed 30 to 40 years service and pension rights for thefts of soap, a packet of chocolate or a pair of stockings. An engine driver took coal from his engine to swap for eggs among the Shaggar, rifled suitcases in a vent and regularly threw stolen goods into his own garden. As the train passed his lineside home. Fur coats, typewriters, vacuum cleaners and a piano accordion were among the goods fulfilled in 1948. Out of 8,585 larceny prosecutions by the railway police last year, 2,387 were at roll of ships. Thus, three outsiders were convicted. To every young railway man, statistically, this means that only one in every 300 rail workers is found guilty of theft.

[Inspector]

I believe that, don't you? And just because this program has told you about some of the crimes going on in the railways, I hasten to add that a trip by a railway in Britain is one of the safest ways of travelling. But while you're about it, keep an.

[John]

Eye on your bag.

[Charlie]

After all, if everybody was just a.

[Inspector]

Little more careful, most of the cooks in this world would be looking for new ways of earning their living. And it would just help to avoid that temptation to go off the rails.