The Railway Children

by John Escott (Adaptor), E. Nesbit

'We have to leave our house in London,' Mother said to the children. 'We're going to live in the country, in a little house near a railway line.' And so begins a new life for Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis. They become the railway children - they know all the trains, Perks the station porter is their best friend, and they have many adventures on the railway line. But why has their father had to go away? Where is he, and will he ever come back?

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Short Stories, Historical Fiction, Childrens

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1906

About the author

John Escott started by writing children's books and comic scripts, but now writes and adapts books for students of all ages. He especially enjoys writing crime and mystery thrillers, and is a member of the British Crime Writers Association.

With Oxford University Press John has published London for the Oxford Bookworms Factfile series; Agatha Christie, Woman of Mystery, Star Reporter, Girl on a Motorbike, The Fly and Other Horror Stories, and The Scarlet Letter for the Oxford Bookworms Library series; The Magician, Time for a Robbery, Star for a day, Tomorrow's Girl, and The Man with Three NAMEs for the Hotshot Puzzles series; and A Pretty Face for the Dominoes series.

Reviews

[kian · Rating 4 out of 5]

روبرتا، فيليس، پيتر، در كنار والدين شان، زندگي آرام و بي دغدغه اي دارند تا اينكه مثل همه ي داستانهاي ديگر... ناگهان... همه چيز تغيير مي‌كند... پدر براي مدتي بايد دور از آنها زندگي كند و بچه‌ها مجبورند به همراه مادرشان خانه گرم و نرم خود را رها كنند و به جايي نزديك راه آهن و خارج از لندن براي زندگي بروند..... با اين كه تم داستان، دوري و به تصوير كشيدن سختي هاي زندگي براي يك خانواده ي كوچك است، اما نوعي فضاي شاد و كودكانه در داستان وجود دارد كه به خواننده مي گويد روزهاي رنج آن قدرها قصد ماندن ندارند و زمان شادي به زودي فرامي رسد....

[Abrar Alarjan · Rating 3 out of 5]

باعتباري قد قرأتُ لنفس الكاتبة في المستوى الثاني السابق ،أجد بأن قصتها خمسة أطفال أفضل من هذه القصة ولكن باعتبار القصة مختصرةفربما فقدت الكثير من أجزاءها وباعتباري قد قرأتُ القصة على مدى فترتين فلذا لن أستطيع تقيمها بشكل منصف

[Reham Elkomy · Rating 2 out of 5]

16/12/2025

[Sue Duke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless and beautiful.
And yet set in a world we no longer know - where children can roam the countryside freely, live life slowly and make friends with strangers.
Lovely to listen to this on Audible.

[Zahra Essa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a quot once it says if you felt like you lost a friend when you read the last chapter , know that you read an amazing book .
I feel like the three children are my friends even though it isn't a large book, but i love how friendly, pure, and kind they are . They helped everyone even if they didn't know the person , and i loved the way they treated their mother and were afraid to make her sad.

My favorite part is when Jim asked Bobbie, "Are you afraid of the Dark?"
"Not very afraid."said Bobbie.
"Let's hold hands."
It reminds me of the song alone " I'm not gonna make it alone."
Or this lyric from 22 "everything will be alright if you kept me next to you"

[Maryam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing I noticed about this book was its title: The Railway Children, the striking element that caught my attention was the word "Railway". Railway can mean train, a classic symbolism that exists in literature. There are many predictions that can be made for Pre-reading Activities, by teaching students the literary element of symbolism, using the place setting in the title itself. Teachers may refer to this article for more information: http://www.railroad.net/articles/topi...

For While-Reading, I can see students linking the events in the story with the predicted themes that they could derive from Pre-reading. In fact, every chapter has a theme that can be tied to symbolism in the title, such as strength (accidental meeting with Perks when was Peter trying to get coal), friendship (a place of bonding), a place of reflection (Bobbie found the stack of newspapers with news about her father), etc. Interesting activities can be done to get students to search for these elements in the book and come up with meanings.

After extensive discussions and searches for answers, I believe students can emotionally reflect upon this book. Given enough help, they can use this book to express thoughts and feelings in the form that teachers seem fit, probably come up with a plan for a surprise birthday party and why (post-reading activity for/based on Chapter 6). Etc.

I can see why this book was selected for Form Three students. It's easy to use as a resource for both big L and small L. Literature can be made really fun using this material, provided if the teacher is creative enough and willing to go the extra mile. And there's a movie on it too. Why, it's time for a mild introduction to Literature and Media! (If you think your students are too advanced or when they say the book is boring.)

[Carly K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read-aloud option written in a charming voice and much of the story feels still quite modern. The children are all individuals and complicated characters, and the author's asides and narrative voice are great. The only real critique I have is that there's a random passage about girls' delicate sensibilities involving a medical doctor telling Peter not to be such a jerk to his sisters (who have just outwitted him pretty handily) by basically telling him he has to be careful with girls because they're just so much sensitive. On the one hand, sure, this type of thing is historically common and all, but on the other, it really detracts and distracts from a story in which all three children show themselves quite adventurous, clever, and brave.

[Miss Sunshine girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nem ismertem a történetet, úgy vágtam bele az olvasásba. Meglepődtem magamon, hogy mennyire könnyen olvastam és csak kevés dolgot nem értettem belőle. A könyvecske végén lévő szószedet és a teszt hasznos. Az én igényeimet kielégíti ez a sorozat, annyi a bajom vele, hogy a hanganyagot vmi rémes hangsúllyal bíró ember olvasta fel, ráadásul egy kukkot nem értettem belőle, idegesített is a hanghordozás, így azt nem hallgattam végig. Nekem elsősorban az olvasás gyakorlása a célom, így ez annyira nem zavart, csak ha már van hozzá CD, jó lett volna hasznosítani is.

[Khánh Thư · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: mình đọc phiên bản được download miễn phí trên iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-...

Mình kết thúc quyển sách khi xe đang qua cao tốc, nên chẳng có tí ti khả năng nào bắt gặp được những cái vẫy tay từ 3 đứa trẻ nào đó đứng ở cạnh đường ray tàu. Thế nhưng mình vẫn nhìn ra cửa sổ và chuẩn bị sẵn sàng tay để vẫy lại, và thưởng cho mình một nụ cười tự giễu.
Cuốn sách dễ thương hết sức. Rất thích hợp khi đọc vào một ngày chủ nhật mát mẻ ngồi bên cửa sổ. Còn mình thì không biết có phải tại định mệnh hay không mà lại hay đọc vào những lúc ngồi trên xe, mặc dù trên lý thuyết cũng là ngồi kế cửa sổ.
Nói nãy giờ lan man quá. Tóm lại là cuốn sách rất dễ thương và nhẹ nhàng. Nếu sau này mình có con, mình nhất định sẽ kể cho chúng về 3 đứa trẻ ở Three Chimneys. Và nếu con mình là con gái, thì nhất định mình sẽ mong nó giống như Bobbie.
Cuối cùng, hơi spoil nhẹ, mình mong Father đừng cho gia đình trở về nơi cũ, hãy cho 3 đứa trẻ được lớn lên ở Three Chimneys với những đoàn tàu của chúng. Bởi vì ai cũng biết những đoàn tàu đó là của riêng Bobbie, Peter và Phyllis cơ mà.
Mình xin trích một đoạn đối thoại của ba đứa mà mình đọc cười lên cười xuống:

“I suppose I shall HAVE to be married some day," said Peter, "but it will be an awful bother having her round all the time. I'd like to marry a lady who had trances, and only woke up once or twice a year."
"Just to say you were the light of her life and then go to sleep again. Yes. That wouldn't be bad," said Bobbie.
"When I get married," said Phyllis, "I shall want him to want me to be awake all the time, so that I can hear him say how nice I am.”

[wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic children's book written at the turn of the twentieth century. The story involves a family in which the father is mysteriously taken away leaving the mother and three children to downsize and live a life of more moderate means in a rural area. Near their new home are train tracks and a train station and the kids have several exciting adventures connected in part to that fact. I can see why the novel is loved and even children now would probably enjoy the book.

[Muhnnad Balbaid · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was normal story and sometime boring


(Spoilers):
I didn’t like the end of the story it was normal
When Bobbie looked at the newspaper about her father and he is in prison, I thought the end will be more interesting but its not.
Second they said they caught the spy, but I didn’t like the way the spy was caught


So its good story for developing english and for children

[Saz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like It actually .. I decided to continue reading Small English Books like in the past I did for learning the language.actually it helped a lot and it is a nice full of adventure especially for children but then I watched it's film and was very good.

[Olatomi Afilaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. Such a memory of childhood ups and downs. Their innocence so pronounced yet so grown up at times when the challenges came before them. They always displayed their great upbringing

[Deborah Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable story. A lovely film to watch over and over again at Christmas or whenever it takes your fancy.

[Tara Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful.

[Çetineus]

it was boring

[maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.5/5]: Read this adaptation of Edith Nesbit’s “The Railway Children.”

Now, tell me why I’m smiling like an idiot after finishing a children’s book?

[Lilith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this in for my English class ha

[Susanne Beyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally a NICE story for my A2 English learners.

[H W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic

[Khaled Helwane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo lovely

[happylittlebirdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 stars

[Eri Anegawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

"THE RAILWAY CHILDREN "
OXFORD by EDITH NESBIT
Stage 3
Chapter 1 to 5

Time: 11/09= 30min 11/10=35min
Total=65min

7 word summary
family - change - unhappy - supper - railway - London - coal -

Discussion Q:
In this book, Bobbie had his birthday party and he got lots of nice presents. He enjoyed his lovely birthday.
My question is......what was the your best birthday party? What did you get as a birthday present??
A. When I was in Australia, my friends threw a surprise birthday party for me. I got a cream pie on my face. It was a big surprise for me and unexpected, but it was the happiest birthday I've ever had.

The beginning of the story, the family was happy and rich, but a father had to go away and a mother and three children had to leave their house. Then they became poor.
It wad very sad happening, but three children always enjoyed their new life, so I was impressed by their minds.

"THE RAILWAY CHILDREN "
OXFORD by EDITH NESBIT
Stage 3
Chapter 6 to 10

Time: 11/14= 30min 11/15=30min
Total=60min

7 word summary
newspaper - father - spy - tunnel - injury - truth - happy -

Discussion Q:
In this book, one girl 'Bobbie' looked at the newspaper and read the words on the page " Five Years In Prison For Spy " the name of the spy was the name of her father. She knew that about her father and really shocked.
Q. If you were Bobbie, how would you feel?
A. First, I'd feel sad about that, but I don't want to believe my father is a spy. I want to know the truth, so I would try to find out information about a father is not a spy.


I really enjoyed reading this book!!!
I think it was a heartwarming story:)
In this book, three children were so brave and kind. Also, they supported their mother without a father and relatives. Through this book, I realized that to support family is not so easy and needs strength.

[Victor]

This is a story of three children, Roberta, Phyllis, and Peter, who live in a respectable suburban villa with a wonderful mother and father and a cook and servants, until one day great disgrace and poverty befalls them. Father is taken away to prison (but they do not know this at first), and they have to move to a poor cottage in the country near a railway line. Mother writes stories to earn what little they live on and they get used to being poor and have to learn not to steal coal from the railway station, even if they have so little to keep warm by. Sometimes they argue and have crises, as one does, but in time they make many new friends, and amusing adventures aplenty happen near the railway and the canal. They develop the habit of waving to the train as it goes past and sometimes the people in the coaches wave back. Their friendly habits makes them one special friend in particular, who although he mostly just goes by in the train, eventually gets to know them, and helps them out in various ways. And somehow all the good things that they do add up together and end up coming back to them, and there is happy ending to it all.

[Rina Suzuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

100minutes
7words
Rich,Poor,Children,Railway,Adventure,Family,Old guy
Favorite scene
I like the scene which three children saved the trains and passengers because the rock suddenly came crashing down in a big heap on the railway line below. In addition, I like the scene which three children helped the man whose leg was broken middle the tunnel.


Question
If you find the rail load which big rock was falling down, can you do save train as them?
Answer
Maybe I can't do the same thing as them.
It is very scared.

/>They experienced many things related to the railway. The beginning of the story, The family was rich, but they had to behave poor for some reasons. They didn't live with their father.But finally they were able to see him. How they do is the key of this story.

[Mali · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a book about children and their mother who had to move from London to the countryside when their father taken by two gentlemen.

It's also about their friendship between Perks the Porter and the old gentleman who would wave at them on the 9.15 train.

Although it is about Peter, Phyllis and Bobbie, it mostly centers on Bobbie, the eldest, who had to share the burden of her mother when it is found out that her father was accused of spying and treachery.

My views: When I first look at the cover and title, I thought it was about children running away on a train and have adventures and lead a vagabond life or something (that would be fun to read).

But I'm not disappointed. Not entirely, that is. But nonetheless, I loved how the role of Bobbie in this story. It appears that she is the one with the highest responsibility (mother doesn't count).

[Haruna Saka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book:)
OXFORD Bookworms Library
"The Railway Children"
Stage3, By Edith Nesbit.

Time:)
5/15=40min, 5/16=22min, 5/19=14min (in total:76min)

7 summary:)
father-gentleman-station-train-birthday-spy-save

DiscussionQ&A:)
Q...Can you wave to people you don't know while you or the people are getting on a vehicle and we are passing (going by) each other?? It often happens at amusument park!
A... Let me see, if the people were children and parents, I could do that! But, it would be difficult to wave at only men! Nervous nervous!haha

My thoughts:)
This book was very interesting for me! The three children have bravery very much! I was very impressed by their action!
Especially, one of the children, Bobbie was impressive! It is because she definitely believed that her father wasn't a spy until someone proved the doubt wasn't true. I recommend to everybody!:)

[Rikako Onogi · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Oxford, level3
2. 130min
3. railway, children , family, London, train, gentlemen, life
4 (a). Bobbie, Phyllis, Peter and their parents were living in a rich house in London. They were very happy everyday. But, suddenly, father had a big trouble for job, so they cannot continue to live their rich house and they had to leave the house. Their new house is near railway. Mother goes to work everyday to supper children's food. At end of the story, father comes back, so children are happy.
(b). The scene that a kind gentleman often helps family is point of heartwarming for me. When mother was sick, the man helps children. The man is neighbor, so I think it is important to have a relationship with neighbors.
5. Firstly when I read this book, I thought this is sad story, but actually, this is heartwarming story. I recommend this book.

[Haruka Furuta · Rating 4 out of 5]

1,OXFORD Level 3
2, 9/28 10min 9/29 30 min 9/30 15 min
3, siblings, railway, removal, old gentlemen, saved, spy, ill
4, a The lines began to shake and the two flags that were pushed into the heaps of stones soon fell over, but Bobbie ran across and picked up one of them.
3 children were watching the tree moving downwards on the opposite side of the railway line, therefore they try to avoid accident to waving the red flags.
b 3 children tried to stop the accident even they were threatened. I think it's very brave brave to do!
4. at the beginning of the story, mother and her 3 children needed to remove to the country side because of father. we can't know the reasons until the end. so I could read this book with expectations because I wanted to know what their father done.

[Erika Saito · Rating 5 out of 5]

-Oxford university press, level3
-Time: 10/30 = 75minutes; 10/31 = 30minutes
-7-word summary: father, move, poor, station, meet, letter, help
-Discussion question:
1. Have you ever moved the house or living place?
I have never moved for all my life. However I wish I could live near Nagoya:(
2. The mother hide about father's all. Do you think the mother shouldn't tell his story for children?
I think it was wrong, because hiding anything is bad thing! Family need believe each other every time.

I think this story is really interesting. Children met many kind persons in this story, so it made me heartwarming:)