The Great Train Robbery

In 1855, Edward Pierce moves in London's high society while secretly planning a major heist. He hatches a scheme to steal a monthly gold shipment aboard the London-to-Folkestone train, guarded by two safes requiring four keys. He begins assembling a crew to execute the robbery.

Pierce seeks out Robert Agar, a skilled pickpocket and screwsman, to help bypass stubborn locks. Agar agrees to join the operation and becomes a crucial member of the crew. The team starts laying the groundwork for the forthcoming job.

Pierce brings in his mistress Miriam, chauffeur Barlow, and a bribed guard named Burgess to keep the plan secret. The group discusses disguises and distractions to cover their tracks. Wax impressions of the keys are planned to imitate the real article later.

Pierce ingratiates himself with Edgar Trent, the bank president, by feigning a shared interest in ‘ratting’. He also courts Trent's daughter Elizabeth to learn the location of Trent's key. This connection sets up access to one of the critical keys.

Pierce and Agar break into Trent's home at night, locate the bank key, and make a wax impression before slipping away unseen. Their success secures one of the essential keys for the heist. The crew grows bolder with each captured advantage.

Miriam poses as a courtesan in an exclusive bordello and meets Henry Fowler, who wears a key around his neck. While Miriam distracts him, Agar makes an impression of Fowler's key. The second key is now in the crew's hands.

Pierce stages a fake police raid to 'rescue' Miriam, forcing Fowler to flee to avoid a scandal. The ruse keeps the authorities from questioning the crew while they consolidate their heist plan. The operation proceeds with stealth and audacity.

The two remaining keys are locked away in a cabinet at the South Eastern Railway offices in London Bridge. A nighttime plan is drawn up to reach the cabinet via a skylight, aided by Clean Willy’s upcoming breakout. The success of the plan hinges on a flawless distraction.

To obtain Willy’s cooperation, Pierce arranges for a distraction tied to a public execution at Newgate Prison. Willy escapes custody and helps the crew make the necessary impressions of the keys without detection. Willy’s leverage becomes a fearsome edge for the plan.

Willy is arrested for pickpocketing and later informs on Pierce. The police use Willy to lure Pierce into a trap, but he narrowly eludes capture. Willy escapes custody again, only to be murdered on Pierce's orders when Barlow takes action.

Authorities further secure the shipment route, padlocking the baggage car from the outside and banning unauthorized entries. The tightened security raises the stakes for Pierce and his team as the departure nears. Every container big enough to hold a man must be opened and inspected before loading.

Pierce smuggles Agar into the baggage car disguised as a corpse. The plan calls for Pierce to reach the car by traversing the coach roofs, then open the baggage van from within. They plan to replace the gold with lead bars and cast the bags off the train at a prearranged point.

Soot from the engine stains Pierce, revealing his disguise as he disembarks at Folkestone. The authorities close in, and he is arrested before he can rendezvous with the others. The plan seems to be at the brink of collapse.

Pierce goes on trial for the robbery, and the crowds hail him as a folk hero. In the commotion, Miriam kisses him and passes a key to his handcuffs from her mouth. Agar is present, disguised as a police van driver, and Pierce escapes with him amid jubilation and police chagrin.