The Railway Children (1970)

Once upon an Edwardian twilight in 1905, a joyous and prosperous home in London is irrevocably changed. The three Waterbury children observe their father, the pillar of their lives, engaged in a heated exchange with two mysterious strangers in his study. In an unfathomable twist of fate, their father departs with these unknown men, vanishing into the night, and fails to return. Stripped of their comfortable existence, the children and their resilient mother are compelled to exchange their urban comforts for a quaint country cottage in Yorkshire. Despite their newfound hardship, the Waterbury children – the valiant Bobbie, the eldest girl, and her spirited siblings – remain undeterred. Their lives become intertwined with the rhythm of the nearby railway, a symbol of their hope and fortitude. Every day, they wave with unfaltering faith at the passing trains, their ritual turning into a beacon of joy for the regular passengers. Their simple act of kindness draws the attention of their Old Gentleman, a daily commuter, who becomes an unexpected ally. The children's newfound life is far from mundane, as they find themselves at the heart of several unforeseen dramas that unfold on the railway's iron tracks. Their bravery and vigilance avert a potentially disastrous accident, winning them both admiration and influential friends who may hold the key to their father's mysterious disappearance. In the midst of adversity, the Waterbury children's unwavering spirit, their bond with the railway, and their encounters with the Old Gentleman, become their beacon of hope. "The Railway Children" is an enchanting tale of strength, resilience, and the indefatigable spirit of childhood, where every train whistle echoes with the promise of unraveling their father's enigma and reuniting their family.

The Railway Children is a drama movie featuring Dinah Sheridan and directed by Lionel Jeffries.

The Railway Children is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

It is also possible to buy The Railway Children on Kino Now.