The Railway Children (1970)
 London,
Christmas Day 1904. Two men call on Charles Waterbury (who works
for the Foreign Office) and lead him away after a terse
discussion.
When he fails to return in the next few weeks, his wife
announces that she and the children - Roberta
("Bobbie"), Phyllis and Peter - will be moving to
Oakworth Yorkshire "to play at being poor for a while".
They move into a cottage called Three Chimneys.
The next morning, the children discover that a nearby field
backs onto the railway line.
They wave at a passing steam train
with their handkerchiefs. A distinguished-looking gentleman waves
back. Following the line, the children arrive at Oakworth station
where they meet porter Albert Perks.
As winter continues, Mother takes ill in their chilly cottage.
Peter steals coal from the station sheds but is caught by
Bobbie.
 Peter protests that trying to keep Mother warm can't be wrong.
Bobbie resolves to do something constructive to help.
The children paint a large sign on an old bedsheet "LOOK
OUT AT THE STATION" and wave it at the 9.15 the next day.
When the train stops at Oakworth, Phyllis passes a note to the Old
Gentleman.
A hamper of supplies is duly delivered to Three Chimneys and
the children thank the Old Gentleman with a similar sign.
But when
Mother recovers and discovers the provisions were acquired by
charity she is furious.
The family are nonetheless reconciled for
Bobbie's birthday.
One day a ragged man staggers off the train at Oakworth,
babbling in French. Mother is called to interpret. He is Russian
dissident Szczepansky, , who has escaped the Siberian mines for
England to find his family.
Mrs Waterbury has Szczepansky convalesce at their home and
suggests the children say a prayer "for all prisoners and
captives".
One day, the children witness a landslide. Knowing they cannot
possibly clear the line before the 11:29 passes through, the girls
create warning flags out of their red bloomers.
 Bobbie stands firm
between the rails, waving the red rags as the brakes are slammed
on. The train comes to rest just in time.
A ceremony is held at the station to commemorate the children's
bravery. The railway Director is the Old Gentleman. Bobbie asks
him if he might be able to help Szczepansky.
The Director
eventually succeeds and Szczepansky leaves for London to be
reunited with his family.
The children ask around the town for birthday presents for
Perks. He is initially furious, but is touched when the children
convince him the gifts are a mark of respect from his fellow
townspeople.
To say thank you, Perks hands Bobbie some old magazines, but
she is later horrified to notice a newspaper headline: announcing
her father's conviction and sentence to penal servitude.
Knowing
he is innocent, Bobbie resolves to rescue him. The next day, she
hands a letter to Perks to pass on.
 A
while later, the children watch grammar school boys hold a 'fox
and hounds' paper chase.
One of the hounds fails to emerge from
the railway tunnel. Investigating, they find their 'hound in a red
jersey' with a broken leg. The boy, Jim, is taken to Three
Chimneys.
When Jim's grandfather comes to visit - it is their Old
Gentleman (gets around a lot!). Bobbie has a private chat with him
about her father. He says he had received her letter and has been
looking into the case.
Some time later, when the children wave at the passing 9:15,
the whole train waves back as if in celebration. At the station,
Bobbie is greeted by an overjoyed Perks.
A train from London halts and, as the steam clears, Bobbie sees
a tall figure on the platform. Arm in arm, father and daughter
walk back to the cottage. Father enters and closes the door as the
children leave their parents alone to be reunited.
Cue Kleenex and a nice cup of tea . . .
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