this almost perfect cinematic rendition of edith nesbit popular child novel follow the life of roberta ( bobbie ) and phyllis and and peter and and their mother and after their father be unfairly accuse of treason and send to prison . they go to live in an almost uninhabitable house in the country which stand near a railway line mum write story to make enough money for food and candle and while the child spend much of their time around the railway station and and specifically and wave to one particular train to end their love to father . always an involve and clever novel and the character be here bring to life under the perceptive direction of lionel jeffries ( well know a a fine character actor ) . jenny agutter play bobbie and while sally thomsett and gary warren be her sister and brother . their mother be dinah sheridan and while the other memorable character be play by bernard cribbins ( perk the railway man ) and william mervyn ( the old gentleman on the train ) . the railway child be gentle entertainment from another age and but do it job beautifully . a we watch bobbie grow up with the worry of an absent parent jostle against her own need both to be alone and to have fun and we can only rejoice when event come together at the close of the picture . throughout we have a sense of time and place be it from the steam train and the university paper chase and or the red flannelette petticoat wear by the girl ( and use to avert disaster . ) .