Page "Great Train Robbery (1963)" Paragraph 2

According to one account by Piers Paul Read ( 1978 ), in January 1963, shortly after the furore over the Airport Job had died down, Brian Field called Gordon Goody to a meeting at the Old Bailey and asked him whether he was interested in a large sum of money that only a large gang could steal.

The following day, Goody and Edwards met with Field at his office at James and Wheater ( in New Quebec Street near Marble Arch ).

Field was accompanied by another man called " Mark ", aged around 50 with silvery-grey hair.

He was well-dressed and spoke with a smooth accent.

During the meeting, " Mark " convinced them to meet the actual informant and drove Edwards and Goody to Finsbury Park where they met a man they nicknamed the " Ulsterman ", a slightly balding middle aged man, who spoke with a Northern Irish accent.

( Goody had grown up in Northern Ireland ).

The " Ulsterman " told them about the night mail trains which ran between London and Glasgow carrying large amounts of money.

Edwards and Goody later discussed the matter with Reynolds and Wilson and it was agreed that they should plan a serious attempt on one of the trains.

In the meantime, they would recruit others and carry out practice train robberies.

On 31 July, Goody and Edwards met with the " Ulsterman " for one last strategy meeting in Hyde Park.

They agreed that his share of the loot would be delivered to Brian Field's house.

It is at this meeting that Gordon Goody claimed that when he was in the toilet, Goody checked the pockets of his suit jacket and saw the name and address of the owner, presumably the " Ulsterman ".