THE RAILWAY CHILDREN -SYNOPSIS

Roberta(Bobbie), Peter and Phyllis lived in a comfortable home in London. Their father was a civil servant while their mother was a housewife.Their parents were wonderful and kind people. They also had a maid to do the house work.

One day, two gentlemen came to the house to see their father. Soon after, he followed them out.He was taken to prison. He was accused of being a Russian spy. The children did not know why their father left with the two men but their mother knew. She kept it to herself and did not tell the children.

Soon, they had to move to a modest cottage in the Yorkshire countryside. The cottage was situated near a railway station. The children's life revolved around the passing trains, workers at the station and the towns people.

Their mother wrote some stories to earn some money to buy food and for other necessities. It was hard at first to be poor but they soon learned to live with the little they had.

They learned not to steal coal from the railway station even if they have so little coal to keep warm. Their life was full of adventures. For instance, they managed to stop a train

when a landslide covered the tracks. They found the injured boy (hound) in the train tunnel and managed to get help for him.

They liked to wave at passing trains. In time they made many new friends and forged a special friendship with one old gentleman in particular. The old gentleman gets to know them and helps them in various ways.

He becomes instrumental in the release of their father from prison.Finally, one day their father returns home and everybody is happy that now they are together again.

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN-CHARACTERROBERTA (BOBBIE)

Roberta is 12 years old. She has a brother named Peter and a younger sister named Phyllis.She is fondly known as Bobbie in this novel. She is the eldest of the three. One of her characters is, she is a very persistent person.She doesn't easily throw in the towel when the odds seem to be against her.There are many incidences in the novel where we can see herpersistence. For example,in chapter 3 (page 17 - paragraph 5 - lines 1-3),we can see how determined she was in getting the things necessary for her mother's recovery when her mother was ill. Her persistence paid off when the old gentleman gave the things needed for her mother's recovery. In chapter 6 (page 38 - read the whole page), Perks was not happy with people giving him presents.He was worried that people would laugh and make fun of him.Bobbie persistently reasoned with Perks about the good intentions of the village people giving him the presents untill he relented and accepted the gifts.Finally, Perks celebrated his birthday with a happy note. In chapter 7 (pg 42 - the whole page), she did not give up in finding a way to help secure her father's release from prison. She was persistent even when her mother had given up. She secretly wrote a letter to her friend the old gentleman asking for his help to clear her father's name.In the end her father was released from prison. 

*Brave - Chapter 5, Chapter 7, Chapter 8 *Kindhearted - Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 8*Responsible - Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 

*Moral - we must not easily give up when things seem impossible. We must keep trying by finding means and ways to make the impossible possible like Roberta.

PETER

Peter is Roberta's brother. He is the second child in the family.  Peter is a very brave and smart young chap. He wants to be an engineer when he grows up. He has a knack for railway engines. He was overjoyed when his father gave him a steam engine for his birthday.One distinct character of Peter is sharp-witted (intelligent).In Chapter 5 (p29 - p4 - lines 1-3), It was he who gave the idea of using something red in colour to wave and stop the train from meeting a certain disaster.He cut his sisters' red petticoats into six pieces and put them on to sticks.Peter together with his sisters waved at the coming train until it stopped.In Chapter 6 (pg 36 - p1 - lines 1-3), Peter was honest in giving the idea of asking the village people to give gifts for Perk's birthday.He told his mother about their true intention of giving Perks the presents.Many people gave gifts for Perks birthday party.In Chapter 2 (pg 12 - p 3 - lines 1-3), we can see the daring side of Peter. He was daring enough to steal coal from the railway station at night but he did it ignorantly. Peterinnocently thought it was alright to take some coal from the station. In Chapter 8 (p46 - p1 - lines 1-4 / pg 47 - p2 - lines 1-4), we can see how brave Peter was in searching for the boy in the red shirt in the dark tunnel.He was shaking in fear but still he continued the search for the boy with his sisters.

PHYLLIS

Phyllis is the youngest child in the family.  She is the cutest of the three.She is quite a bubbly character. She is very naive and insecure.She is also very sensitive but easily forgiving.In Chapter 5 (p29,30 & 31), we can see the brave side of Phyllis. She together with her elder sister and brother managed to stop the train from meeting with a terrible accident.In Chapter 1 (p7 - p1 - last line), Phyllis felt very insecure when they moved in to their new house at the countyside. While in Chapter 6 (pg 38 - p1&2),Phyllis became very sensitivewhen Perks refused to accept the gifts the children had brought to him. She was so hurt by Perks's words that she started to cry.In Chapter 4,5,6 and 8 we can see how loving, caring and helpful Phyllis is.

MOTHER

 

Mother is a homely type.We can read this in Chapter 1 (page 1 - paragraph 2 - lines 1-3). She spends most of her time at home, playing with the children or reading stories to them.Usually she read the stories she wrote to them.She is a very protective woman. She protected her children from worrying or feeling sad about their father. She did this by not telling them what actually had happened to their father. She also told them that they need to play being poor for a while in order not to cause more anxiety on them.

In chapter 2 (p12 - pg 1 - lines 2-3), we can see how resourceful she is. Mother wrote stories and sold them to put some food on the table.In chapter 4 (p21 - pg 3 - lines 1-3), we can see that Mother is a very proud person. Although they were poor, she strongly discourages her children from telling people that they are poor and asking strangers to help them.She is also a very caring and loving Mother.In Chapter 1 (p1 - p2 - lines 1-3), Mother was always ready to play with her chlidren. She also read stories to them. Whereas in Chapter 9 ( p53 - p1 - lines 2-4), she taught her children their lessons as they have stopped going to school for some time now.In Chapter 8 (p50 - p1 - lines 8-9) , she took in the injured boy into her house and nursed him to health.

FATHER

The children's father worked in a government ofiice. He was a civil servant. He was an honest and hardworking man. He was wrongly accused of being a Russian spy and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.In Chapter 1 (pg 1 - p 3 - lines 2-4),we can see how tolerant and wonderful he is. He never gets angry at the children nor at his wife. The children love their father very much for he is always happy and ready to play games with them.In Chapter 1 (pg 3 - p1 - lines 1-3), when Peter showed him his broken steam engine, father looked at it carefully and smilingly told Peter that there is hope(optimistic) that his steam engine could be repaired.He is also a grateful man. In Chapter 9 (pg 57 - "Yes',said Father.'It's him I must thank.'). Father was grateful for his release and wanted to thank the old gentleman for helping him to clear his name and secure his release from prison.

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN - ThemesThere are roughly ten themes in this novel. They are as stated below :-

1.The Importance Of A Family - The family bond between the characters in this novel is very strong. For example, in chapter 1, mother was always at home spending time with the children. She played with them and read stories to them. Mother also read stories which she wrote to them after tea. Moreover, the children had a wonderful father who was never angry, and was always ready to play a game with them.The children loved their father and never forgot him though they never talked much about him. Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis were always together be it at the railway line, the railway station and even when they collected gifts for Perks.  

2.Hope and Optimism - The children's father was always optimistic that things would be fine.For example, when Peter showed him his broken toy steam engine, father looked at it and optimistically assured Peter that he would mend it.Bobbie had high hopes that the old gentleman would be able to help her to seek the truth about her father's innocence. The old gentleman helped Bobbie in her quest because he had hopes that her father was innocent. 

3.Bravery -Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis are brave children. They risked their lives to stop a train from accident. Peter and Phyllis waved their flags by standing along the railway line while Bobbie ran on to the line waving her falgs. The children aslo showed bravery when they entered the dark tunnel to look for the boy in the red shirt.Mother stayed calm and brave for the chlidren's sake while her husband was away in prison. 

 4.The Joys Of Childhood5.Kindness Brings Reward6.The Loss Of Innocence7.Justice Shall Prevail8.Coping With Hardship9.Resourceful And Innovative10.Naivety

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN-MORAL VALUEThere are some beautiful moral values / lessons we can see and learn from this novel. The moral values / lessons are BRAVE, KINDHEARTED, STEALING IS WRONG, PERSEVERANCE (NEVER GIVING UP), SENSIBLE (QUICK THINKING), SENSITIVE (NOT SELFISH), HONESTY and FRIENDLY. In this post, I will share three of them.

Moral Value 1 - Brave

Example : In chapter 5, the children managed to save the train and stop a very bad accident from happening.One day, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis saw a landslide which blocked the railway line.The girls used their red petticoats to make flags.The train was moving very fast.Bobbie braved herself and ran on to the railway line and waved her flags.The train finally stopped just twenty metres from Bobbie. The children's bravery saved the people on the rain from meeting with an awful accident and from getting killed.

Moral Value 2 - Kindhearted

Example : In chapter 3, the children's mother was ill and had to stay in bed. Dr Forrest came to check on their mother and told Bobbie her mother needed milk and fruit and some other special things to eat in order to get well. They couldn't afford to buy them, so the children decided to ask help from the old gentleman. The old gentleman was a kind enough to provide them with all the things they had asked and some they had not.

Moral Value 3 - Stealing Is Wrong

Example : In chapter 2, Peter and his two sisters stole some coal from the station yard. They took the coal back to their house.One day, the station master caught Peter red handed stealing coal in the station yard.Peter and his two sisters admitted to helping Peter with his crime. The station master warned them not to repeat it again and let them go. The children realised that stealing was wrong. They repented and never took any coal from the station yard again.

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN-SETTINGSThere are 3 types of settings in this novel :-

Place, Social, Cultural

Place

Place - House in London

Place - The cottage in the countryside

Place - The Railway Station

Place - The Railway Tunnel

Place - The Village

Social

Social - Edwardian Type Of Clothes

Social - Edwardian Type Of Clothes

Social - Coals used for steam engine trains

Social - Coals used as fuel in steam engine trains

Cultural

Cultural - Having Tea

Cultural - High Hats & Long Coats

Cultural - High Hat

PLOT SUMMARY : THE RAILWAY CHILDREN

CHAPTER 1: THE BEGINNING OF THINGSOne night at their home in London, father, mother, Roberta(also known as Bobbie), Peter and Phyllis are talking about Peter’s broken model engine when there is a knock on the front door. Two gentlemen come to see father and talk for a long time. Father speaks briefly with mother and mysteriously leaves home. The next morning, mother leaves for London and returns in the evening, looking tired. She requests the children to be good while she is away and not to ask any question about father. Several horrid weeks pass by and one morning, mother tells the children that they are moving to a little white house near railway line in the country. They take the train and arrive at their new home in the dark.

CHAPTER 2: PETER AND THE COALThe family do not get a decent supper as they think Mrs. Viney has not prepared it for them. Mother prepares what she can and off they go to bed. The next morning, the children wake up feeling excited in their new home. They discover that a nearby field backs onto a railway line but the railway station is too far to see from where they are. Before supper the children decides to go to the railway station. They have a lot to see and a large heap of coal catches Peter’s attention. When Peter steals coal from the station yard, he is caught by the Station Master. Peter thinks that taking some coals from the middle of the heap is harmless. The Station Master warns them that what they have done is stealing because the coal belongs to

the railway station. It is only then they realize what they have done is wrong.

CHAPTER 3: THE OLD GENTLEMANBy now the children know the time when the trains pass. Every morning, they will wave to an old gentleman who always waves back at them. They pretended that the old man knows their father and takes their love to him in London. One day, their mother becomes very ill and Bobbie resolves to do something positive to help. The children paint the words, “LOOK OUT AT THE STATION” on a large white sheet and wave it at the 9.15 train the next day. When the train is about ready to leave, Phyllis passes a letter to the Old Gentleman. In the evening, a large box of supplies is delivered to the children with all the things they have asked for.

CHAPTER 4: BOBBIE’S RIDEWhen their mother finally recovers from her illness, they confess to her what they have done earlier. The family later celebrates Bobbie’s 12th birthday, all dressed in their best. Bobbie receives various presents from the family including Peter who reluctantly has to give her the broken half of his toy train filled with sweets. Her lovely birthday party however ends on a sad note when she realizes that her mother is very upset later that night. Bobbie secretly wants to repair Peter’s broken train. She goes to the station and accidentally gets into the engine of one of the trains. Feeling scared, she seeks help from two railway workers. The two men not only repair the toy but also make sure she arrives home safely. Weeks later, Bobbie

introduces Peter and Phyllis to the friendly engine driver and Jim, the fireman. 

CHAPTER 5: SAVING THE TRAINThe children witness a landslide that covers the railway line. The children prevent an imminent accident by waving the girls’ red petticoats. The train comes to rest just in time, at about twenty metres from where Bobbie stands on the tracks. Weeks later, a ceremony is held at the station to commemorate the children’s bravery. The Old Gentleman presents the children with a gold watch each and meets their mother at home. The children relay that eventful day to their mother.  CHAPTER 6: A BIRTHDAY FOR PERKSTHE CHILDREN’S MOTHER HAS JUST SOLD A STORY AND SUGGESTS HAVING SOME CAKES FOR TEA. BOBBIE REQUESTS THAT THEY HAVE IT ON PERKS’S BIRTHDAY AND MOTHER AGREES. PETER COMES UP WITH AN IDEA TO ASK THE VILLAGERS FOR LITTLE GIFTS, CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL GIVE SOMETHING TO A PERSON AS NICE AS PERKS. SOME OF THE VILLAGERS ARE DELIGHTED WITH THE IDEA BUT OTHERS, SUCH AS MRS. RANSOME SIMPLY BRUSHES THEM OFF. THE THREE CHILDREN, HOWEVER, GO HOME AND COLLECT SEVERAL ROSES FOR MRS. RANSOME SINCE IT IS HER BIRTHDAY. THAT KIND GESTURE TOUCHES MRS. RANSOME’S HEART AND SHE GIVES THE CHILDREN SEVERAL APPLES AS WELL AS HER DEAD GRANDCHILD’S PRAM FOR PERKS’S SON. THE CHILDREN BRING THE GIFTS TO PERKS’S HOUSE AND WAIT FOR HIS ARRIVAL SO AS TO SURPRISE HIM. IN SPITE

OF THIS, PERKS BECOMES UPSET AS HE SEES THE GIFTS AS A FORM OF CHARITY. THE CHIDREN EXPLAIN THAT THESE GIFTS ARE GIVEN SINCERELY AND PERKS RELENTS. HE ASKS THE THREE CHILDREN TO STAY FOR TEA. 

CHAPTER 7: THE TERRIBLE SECRETBOBBIE DISCOVERS THE REASON FOR HER FATHER’S DISAPPEARANCE WHEN SHE READS THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE. DEEPLY UPSET, SHE REFUSES TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS A SPY AND IS IMPRISONED. HER MOTHER ATTEMPTS TO EXPLAIN THAT HER FATHER HAS BEEN FALSELY ACCUSED OF SELLING GOVERNMENT SECRETS TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. BOBBIE BELIEVES IN HER FATHER’S INNOCENCE AND DECIDES TO WTITE TO THE OLD GENTLEMAN TO CLEAR HIS NAME. 

CHAPTER 8: THE BOY IN THE RED SHIRTTHE BOY IN RED GOES MISSING DURING A ‘HARE AND HOUNDS’ GAME ORGANISED BY THIER SCHOOL. BOBBIE AND HER SIBLINGS ENTER THE DARK RAILWAY TUNNEL TO LOOK FOR HIM. THEY FIND HIM LYING BY THE RAILWAY TRACK WITH A BROKEN LEG. BOBBIE STAYS WITH THE INJURED BOY, JIM, IN THE DARK TUNNEL WHILE PETER AND PHYLLIS SEEK HELP FORM THE FARM. THE CHILDREN  TAKE JIM HOME FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. THEY LATER LEARN THAT JIM IS THE GRANDCHILD OF THE OLD GENTLEMAN WHOM THEY HAVE MET EARLIER. THE OLD GENTLEMAN VISITS THE LITTLE WHITE HOUSE WHERE JIM IS TAKEN CARE OF. MOTHER OFFERS HERSELF TO TAKE CARE OF JIM UNTIL HE GETS BETTER. THE OLD

GENTLEMAN IS GRATEFUL TO THE FAMILY. WHEN THE OLD GENTLEMAN LEAVES THE HOUSE, HE HAS A PRIVATE CHAT WITH BOBBIE ABOUT HER FATHER. HE SAYS THAT HE HAS RECEIVED THE LETTER AND HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO THE CASE. HE BELIEVES THAT HER FATHER IS INNOCENT. 

CHAPTER 9: THE MAN AT THE STATIONTHE CHILDREN WAVE AT THE PASSING 9.15 TRAIN AND ALL THE PASSENGERS RESPOND. AT THE STATION, AN OVERJOYED MR. PERKS, WHO HAS READ ABOUT BOBBIE’S FATHER IN THE NEWSPAPER, GREETS HER. A LONDON TRAIN STOPS AT THE STATION AND BOBBIE SEES HER FATHER RETURN AFTER SERVING HIS SENTENCE IN PRISON. THEY RETURN HOME HAPPY AND REUNITED.