Wrongfully convicted of treason, Charles Waterbury (Iain Cuthbertson) is sentenced to five years of penal servitude. His family in dire straits moves to the English countryside from London with most of their worldly possessions left behind. What follows is a genuinely heartwarming story that focuses on the three Waterbury children who, in an effort to maintain a positive outlook, develop personal relationships with the citizens of Yorkshire and more than a passing acquaintance with riders on the steam train that travels daily past their new home.
Now I'm not sure if most siblings would be this outgoing, but the Waterbury children seem to have hearts of gold. It appears second nature for them to take in a stranded Russian with a broken leg, prevent a serious train accident due to a landslide, and nurse back to health an injured runner when they find him unconscious. All the while, they keep an unspoken promise never to inquire of their missing father so their mother (Dinah Sheridan) can be spared further grief.
The takeaway for most viewers will certainly be the unselfishness of the Waterbury children, and from them we can all learn a lesson of selfless charity and humility. Particularly impressive was the way they won over station agent Perks (Bernard Cribbins) who initially railed at what he considered a snipe at his family's circumstances. With gentle touches of humor and old fashioned family values, "The Railway Children" is well recommended for families with it's lessons of positive attitude, selfless charity and a conviction that negative circumstances don't last forever.
Now I'm not sure if most siblings would be this outgoing, but the Waterbury children seem to have hearts of gold. It appears second nature for them to take in a stranded Russian with a broken leg, prevent a serious train accident due to a landslide, and nurse back to health an injured runner when they find him unconscious. All the while, they keep an unspoken promise never to inquire of their missing father so their mother (Dinah Sheridan) can be spared further grief.
The takeaway for most viewers will certainly be the unselfishness of the Waterbury children, and from them we can all learn a lesson of selfless charity and humility. Particularly impressive was the way they won over station agent Perks (Bernard Cribbins) who initially railed at what he considered a snipe at his family's circumstances. With gentle touches of humor and old fashioned family values, "The Railway Children" is well recommended for families with it's lessons of positive attitude, selfless charity and a conviction that negative circumstances don't last forever.