When their father goes away unexpectedly, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and their mother have to leave their comfortable life in London to go and live in a small cottage in the countryside. At the local station they make friends with the Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. Each day, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis run down the field to the railway track and wave to the passing London train. Little do they know that the kindly old gentleman passenger who waves back holds the key to their father's disappearance. Although the children have many adventures, one question remains: is their father ever coming back? The Railway Children is a masterpiece of children's fiction. It wonderfully evokes a bygone age and is packed with fun, excitement and adventure.