The Railway Children · Chapter
Saviours of the Train explained
The children befriend the Russian gentleman recovering in their garden and seek to cheer him.
What happens
The children befriend the Russian gentleman recovering in their garden and seek to cheer him. They visit Perks at the station, who is hurt at being left out of the secret about the Russian. After reconciling, they learn of a dangerous landslide on the railway line. Using red flannel flags, they heroically stop the 11:29 train just in time, saving it from wreck. Bobbie faints from the strain but is praised as a heroine. Later, they gather wild cherries for the Russian.
Themes in this chapter
Heroism and Selflessness
The children risk their safety to stop the train and save passengers from a deadly wreck.
Kindness and Community
The children befriend the Russian stranger, reconcile with Perks, and share strawberries as acts of goodwill.
Childhood Innocence and Adventure
The children's imaginative and earnest efforts to help, from flag-waving to cherry-picking, highlight their adventurous spirit.
Characters to notice
- Roberta (Bobbie)
Leads the effort to save the train by waving flags, faints from exhaustion and relief.
- Peter
Organizes the flag-waving plan and keeps his siblings safe on the line.
- Phyllis
Reconciles with Perks by hugging him; enjoys being a heroine after the train is saved.
- Perks
Initially offended at being kept in the dark about the Russian, later forgives the children and gives them strawberries.
- The Russian
Recovering in the garden; receives strawberries and kindness from the children.
- Mother
Writes letters to help the Russian find his family; cares for him and lends her watch to the children.
Key passages
“The Russian gentleman was better the next day, and the day after that better still, and on the third day he was well enough to come into the garden.”
The Russian man recovered quickly and was able to sit outside by the third day.
Shows the Russian's improving health and the children's ongoing concern.
“Oh, stop, stop, stop! cried Bobbie. No one heard her. At least Peter and Phyllis didn't, for the oncoming rush of the train covered the sound of her voice with a mountain of sound. But afterwards she used to wonder whether the engine itself had not heard her.”
Bobbie screamed for the train to stop, but the noise drowned her out; later she felt the engine somehow responded.
Highlights the dramatic climax and Bobbie's emotional intensity.
“The engine-driver picked her up, carried her to the train, and laid her on the cushions of a first-class carriage. 'Gone right off in a faint,' he said, 'poor little woman.'”
The driver lifted the unconscious Bobbie and placed her on a train seat, noting she had fainted from the ordeal.
Emphasizes the physical toll of the heroic act.