The Railway Children is the classic children's story by E Nesbit When Father is taken away unexpectedly Roberta Peter Phyllis & their mother have to leave their comfortable life in London to go & live in a small cottage in the country The children seek solace in the nearby railway station & make friends with Perks the Porter & the Station Master himself Each day Roberta Peter & Phyllis run down the field to the railway track & wave at the passing London train sending their love to Father Little do they know that the kindly old gentleman passenger who waves back holds the key to their father's disappearance One of the best-loved classics of all time with a wonderful introduction by Jacqueline Wilson Edith Nesbit was a mischievous child who grew up into an unconventional adult With her husband Hubert Bland she was one of the founder members of the socialist Fabian Society; their household became a centre of the socialist & literary circles of the times E Nesbit turned late to children's writing Her first children's book The Treasure Seekers was published in 1899 to great acclaim Other books featuring the Bastable children followed & a series of magical fantasy books including Five Children & It also became very popular The Railway Children was first published monthly in the London Magazine in 1905 & published as a book in 1906 which has been in print ever since Other children's books by E Nesbit The Story of the Treasure Seekers; The Wouldbegoods; The New Treasure Seekers; Complete History of the Bastable Family; Five Children & It; The Phoenix & the Carpet; The Story of the Amulet; The House of Arden; Harding's Luck; The Railway Children; The Enchanted Castle; The Magic City; The Wonderful Garden; Wet Magic; Five of Us & Madeline