# The Railway Children — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Railway Children by E. Nesbit.

- [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/dedication.md): The author dedicates the book to her son Paul Bland, acknowledging his expertise in railways which she relies upon.
- [The Railway Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/the-railway-children.md): The three children, Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis, move with their mother to a small house called Three Chimneys after their father's sudden departure. They discover the railway nearby and become fascinated with the trains
- [The Beginning of Things](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/i-the-beginning-of-things.md): The chapter introduces the three children—Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis—living a comfortable suburban life with their perfect father and loving mother. Their idyllic existence is shattered when mysterious visitors arrive, 
- [Peter's Coal-Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/ii-peter-s-coal-mine.md): The children adapt to their new life without Father, but a period of cold, wet weather reveals their poverty when Mother forbids a fire due to the high cost of coal. Determined to help, Peter devises a plan to mine coal 
- [The Old Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/iii-the-old-gentleman.md): The children befriend the railway and begin waving to the 9:15 train, which is ridden by an old gentleman who waves back. Mother falls ill with influenza, and the doctor prescribes expensive remedies she cannot afford. T

> 11 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=the_railway_children_se_1451kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [IV: The Engine-Burglar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/iv-the-engine-burglar.md)
- [Prisoners and Captives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/v-prisoners-and-captives.md)
- [Saviours of the Train](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/vi-saviours-of-the-train.md)
- [For Valour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/vii-for-valour.md)
- [The Amateur Firemen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/viii-the-amateur-firemen.md)
- [The Pride of Perks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/ix-the-pride-of-perks.md)
- [The Terrible Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/x-the-terrible-secret.md)
- [The Hound in the Red Jersey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xi-the-hound-in-the-red-jersey.md)
- [What Bobbie Brought Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xii-what-bobbie-brought-home.md)
- [The Hound's Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xiii-the-hound-s-grandfather.md)
- [The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xiv-the-end.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters