WITH the BBC currently screening a two-part drama about 1963's Great Train Robbery, and the death yesterday of Ronnie Biggs, today we spool back to 1962, when Central Station staff were busy loading the night mail train to London.

In the pre-computer days of Postal Orders and cheques, there was no telling how much cash was concealed in those sacks.

The mail train was a mobile sorting office, with Royal Mail staff working throughout the night to make sure the letters and parcels were all ready for delivery by the time the train pulled into London.

Older readers will remember seeing these great trolley-loads of mail being pulled and pushed through the station.

The second part of the TV drama is on BBC1 tonight, at 8pm.