# Peter — The Railway Children character guide > Peter in The Railway Children by E. Nesbit. **Role:** major **Also known as:** II Peter, Pete, practical Peter **First appearance:** 0001-the-railway-children ## Snapshot A ten-year-old who wants to be an engineer, forever hatching plans that end in glory, disaster, or both at once. ## Who they are Peter is the middle child whose birthday model engine explodes within three days of arriving, an early hint that his enthusiasms outrun his judgment. He longs to be useful and manly, and the family's sudden poverty stings his pride hardest. His schemes — some ingenious, some reckless — give the railway chapters their comedy and their scrapes, and his fierce loyalty to his sisters keeps him from ever becoming merely a nuisance. ## Relationships ### [Roberta (Bobbie)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/roberta_bobbie) _family_ Peter and Bobbie have a close sibling relationship, marked by playful teasing and mutual loyalty. ### [Phyllis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/phyllis) _family_ Peter and Phyllis are siblings who share adventures and occasional squabbles, with Peter often taking a protective role. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother is a caring and guiding figure for Peter, especially after the father's absence, fostering his sense of responsibility. ### [Perks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/perks) _friendship_ Perks and Peter enjoy a friendly camaraderie, often working together on railway-related errands. ### [Roberta (Bobbie)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/roberta_bobbie) _family_ Peter and Bobbie have a close sibling relationship, marked by playful teasing and mutual loyalty. ### [Phyllis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/phyllis) _family_ Peter and Phyllis are siblings who share adventures and occasional squabbles, with Peter often taking a protective role. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother is a caring and guiding figure for Peter, especially after the father's absence, fostering his sense of responsibility. ### [Roberta (Bobbie)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/roberta_bobbie) _family_ Peter and Bobbie have a close sibling relationship, marked by playful teasing and mutual loyalty. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother is a caring and guiding figure for Peter, especially after the father's absence, fostering his sense of responsibility. ### [Phyllis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/phyllis) _family_ Peter and Phyllis are siblings who share adventures and occasional squabbles, with Peter often taking a protective role. ### [Perks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/perks) _friendship_ Perks and Peter enjoy a friendly camaraderie, often working together on railway-related errands. ### [Perks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/perks) _friendship_ Perks and Peter enjoy a friendly camaraderie, often working together on railway-related errands. ## In the story ### [The Railway Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/the-railway-children) The practical and adventurous middle child, he is excited by the railway and takes the lead in exploring their new surroundings. ### [The Beginning of Things](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/i-the-beginning-of-things) The middle child, practical and eager to be an engineer, he breaks his model engine and later questions the family's sudden change. ### [Peter's Coal-Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/ii-peter-s-coal-mine) Devises the coal-mining plan to provide fuel for the family, is caught by the Station Master, and insists his actions are mining, not stealing. ### [The Old Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/iii-the-old-gentleman) Collects engine numbers in a notebook, argues with Phyllis but reconciles, and fetches the doctor for Mother. ### [IV: The Engine-Burglar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/iv-the-engine-burglar) Hugs the mended toy engine; participates in the confession to Mother about the gifts. ### [Prisoners and Captives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/v-prisoners-and-captives) Uses his stamp collection to identify the stranger's nationality; asks practical questions about the story. ### [Saviours of the Train](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/vi-saviours-of-the-train) Organizes the flag-waving plan and keeps his siblings safe on the line. ### [For Valour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/vii-for-valour) Shares in the bravery award; gives a shy but heartfelt speech at the ceremony; supports Bobbie's request to the Old Gentleman. ### [The Amateur Firemen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/viii-the-amateur-firemen) Stands his ground against the bargeman, falls into the canal while rescuing the baby, and helps put out the fire. ### [The Pride of Perks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/ix-the-pride-of-perks) Proposes the idea of asking the village for contributions and keeps a list of gifts. ### [The Terrible Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/x-the-terrible-secret) Injures his foot with a rake but reassures Bobbie that it was not her fault, showing maturity and forgiveness. ### [The Hound in the Red Jersey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xi-the-hound-in-the-red-jersey) Notices Bobbie's distress but refrains from questioning; takes the lead in the tunnel rescue attempt. ### [What Bobbie Brought Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xii-what-bobbie-brought-home) Leads the rescue party, goes for help, and wakes the sleeping signalman. ### [The Hound's Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xiii-the-hound-s-grandfather) Teases his sisters with graphic descriptions of bone-setting, gets tied up, later discusses missing Father and wanting Jim to stay. ### [The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xiv-the-end) Teases Phyllis about her bootlace; runs to wave at the 9:15; comments on the unusual waving from the train. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/peter - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters