the book the railway child be a child book publish in 1906 by edith nesbit and an early british socialist who have very strong view about the importance of family value for the upbringing of child and and the story it tell be presumably intend to be contemporary . somewhat surprisingly and it seem to retain a significant appeal for today child a hundred year later . a film adaptation of an edwardian classic child story with the principal role those of the child and do not sound very exciting to most film goer in this day and age . but a really great performance by jenny agutter who ( near the start of her long and distinguish act career ) play the part of the old girl roberta ( bobby ) and combine with remarkable work by the script writer and director lionel jeffries and outstanding photography by arthur ibbetson and have make this a film that be still not to be miss and and one which most of it viewer find quite memorable . it be remarkable that this book and set in the year 1905 and be film five time between 1951 and 2000 and ( four of them by the bbc for british television ) and and all of these version be not only still greatly admire but also very highly regard ( something that user comment on this database will confirm ) and even though this may seem almost inconceivable for a nostalgic period story design to appeal primarily to child . since i have not see the four bbc tv version and these comment relate exclusively to the 1970 film version produce for show in cinema . unlike most film of child book and the railway child may appeal more to adult than to child . the structure of family life have change so much in the last century that many child may feel totally lose by the way in which it be depict in the film and whereas many old adult may find it have a considerable nostalgic appeal . perhaps compensate for this and the child feature in the film be full of life and vitality and whilst the adult character although well round tend to mostly be tuffed shirt . the story be a mature one and which deal with love and support and encouragement and it be not only timeless but capable of appeal to all age . it can fairly be describe a sentimental and more than a little idealised and but it be never in any way mawkish and and that rarely justified adjective uplift fit it like a glove . spoiler ahead . the film start with it upper middle class edwardian family celebrate christmas in a comfortable and fairly spacious london home when two unexpected visitor call and take father ( who be a senior government officer ) away with them . mother have to move to a very small cottage alongside the railway in a remote part of yorkshire and the child gradually build a new life mainly associate with the railway and the few train that pas . this life prove quite eventful in small way and the elder daughter bobby grow up rapidly a she take over more responsibility from her mother . at one point she avert an accident to the train when her sharp eye spot that a landslide have create a natural hazard . father story be never give much emphasis and but he be never forget and it gradually become apparent that he be incarcerate and suspect of treason . finally these suspicion be clear up ( we be not told how or why ) and he reappear unexpectedly at the local station to rejoin his family . for many year this film be not available in any home video format in north america and but anchor bay create a dvd from it three year ago and so they clearly recognise that this quite simple film have not yet lose it appeal . for anyone who have not get one already and i would very strongly recommend rush out to buy a copy of this dvd whilst it be still available you would be most unlikely to be disappointed unless you have become totally cynical and or your minimum requirement for a film include bucket of blood and or or intense sex scene .