THE RAILWAY CHILDREN

SYNOPSIS
The Railway Children is a wonderful story . The story tells about three children, Roberta
(Bobbie), Peter and Phyllis are living a lovely, secure life at Edgecomb Villa. Their father
returns home after being away on business, two unknown men come to visit him in the
evening after supper, and he simply disappears. Neither the reader nor the children know
what has happened to him until Bobbie makes a chance discovery and learns the horrible
truth.
In the intervening time, their mother, a capable and charming woman, takes her children to
live in the country near a railway station, because they must "play at being poor for a while."
The children handle their new situation with grace and wit, spending hours hanging about the
railway station and generally keeping themselves busy, and in the process becoming fast
friends with the porter, Perks, and the station master. They also become acquainted with their
own old gentleman who lends a hand to help them time and again.
Bobbie is the eldest and sweetest of the children, with a longing to be truly good. Peter is the
boy, who is madly in love with trains, stubbornly refuses to be pushed around, and exhibits
an extraordinary courage in the rescue of a baby and a young man in a train tunnel. Phyllis is
the youngest, a funny, clumsy child with good intentions that often seem to go awry.
This sentimental favorite children's book has the moral values of E. Nesbitt, who was a
famous liberal activist (Fabian Socialist) in England. She creates a household utopian vision
of a world where people are naturally good and where parents raise their children to be
helpful and honest and brave.
This provides the background charm for a really lovely tale about a family in distress who
sticks together bravely and provides a shining example to all around them, while being aided
by equally high-minded and kind folks around them.
A knock on the door at the idyllic middle class town home of the children ends with a
tragedy that they can scarcely understand. But Mother is brave and despite rumors of terrible
things, they make their way to a more modest home in the country, next to a railway line.
The children become friends with the trains and the regular commuters who wave at them.
Their fascination with the train results in a heroic rescue. Meanwhile, their situation is
sometimes difficult, and they develop some remarkable strategies for getting aid. There is a
happy ending.
The morals taught to the children are particularly British (helpful, kind, brave) but certainly
apply to us as well. The goodness that the children spread is really a lovely message and
contributes to the charm and longevity of this great story.

CHARACTERS
1. The three children have some common character traits.

Loving,obedient,thoughtful,kind,helpful,hardworking,brave,clever,imaginative,loyal,pol
ite, well-mannered, independent, adventurous and unsure of what is wrong and right.
i.
Roberta @ Bobbie
She is the eldest child in the family and she is twelve years old. She is portrait as
responsible, brave, determined, devoted, loving, understanding and sensitive.
ii.
Peter
He is the only boy in the family and the second child. He is 10 years old. His ambition
is to become an engineer. Peter is a proud boy, brave, clever, resourceful and generous.
iii.
Phyliss
Being the youngest in the family she always tries to be good. She is a loving daughter
and get upset easily.
2. Mother

No name is mention in the story. She has to take care of the family after her husband
was taken away. She loves reading books to her children and she writes stories to
provide for her family. She is a loving and devoted mother. She is also a protective,
brave, patience and strong lady. She is describe as comforting, positive, kind, proud and
dignified too.
3. The Old Gentleman

This gentleman rides on the 9.15 train every morning. He has white hair and looks kind.
He knows the government people. He is Jims grandfather. He has the character of a
friendly, kind, polite, helpful and generous old man.

MINOR CHARACTERS
1. Father

4. Jim
He is a tall man and white-faced. He works
with the government. He is a wonderful
father that never gets angry and are always
ready to play with his children. Sadly, he
was accused of being a spy and was
arrested and jailed.
2. Perks
He is the boy with the red t-shirt that broke
his leg during the paper-chase. Jim is the
old gentlemans grandson. The children
mother nurses him to health after the
incident.
Perks works as a porter at the railway
station. He is a nice and friendly man. He
is kind and polite but he dislikes being
pitied by others. He is good at doing his
job.

5. The train driver and Jim, The fireman

3. The Station Master

They help Bobbie when she gets stuck on

their train and help her mend Peters
broken toy engine.
He is a kind and friendly man too. He
agrees to let Peter go after he arrested him
for stealing the coal.

6. The villagers and other people

Dr Forest : the village doctor, Mrs Viney:
the family helper, Mrs Perks: Perks wife
and Ruth the family maid in London.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.

THEMES
The importance of family love and loyalty
Taking challenges with courage
Facing challenges in life
Growing up to be a well-mannered child
The importance of friends
The importance of community
MORAL VALUES
Family love and loyalty
Kindness and compassion
Bravery
Selfless acts

MESSAGES
1. Family members must love and protect each other
2. Community support is vital
3. Facing challenges in life
POINT OF VIEW
The story is from the third person point of view