# Phyllis — The Railway Children character guide > Phyllis in The Railway Children by E. Nesbit. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Phil **First appearance:** 0001-the-railway-children ## Snapshot The youngest, who means extremely well and says exactly the wrong thing at exactly the wrong moment, usually with her whole heart behind it. ## Who they are Phyllis trails her older siblings with earnest questions and inconvenient honesty, the one who asks Perks why he doesn't keep his birthday. She is neither as brave as Bobbie nor as bold as Peter, but her eagerness to help produces some of the family's most touching and most embarrassing moments. Her guileless kindness keeps the trio from becoming too solemn, and gives the story its softest edges. ## Relationships ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/peter) _family_ Peter and Phyllis are siblings who share adventures and occasional squabbles, with Peter often taking a protective role. ### [Roberta (Bobbie)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/roberta_bobbie) _family_ Phyllis and Bobbie are sisters who share a warm, supportive relationship, with Bobbie often looking out for Phyllis. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother is a gentle and nurturing presence for Phyllis, providing comfort and guidance. ### [Perks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/perks) _friendship_ Perks is a cheerful friend to Phyllis, often teasing her kindly and including her in activities. ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/peter) _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 gentle and nurturing presence for Phyllis, providing comfort and guidance. ### [Roberta (Bobbie)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/roberta_bobbie) _family_ Phyllis and Bobbie are sisters who share a warm, supportive relationship, with Bobbie often looking out for Phyllis. ### [Roberta (Bobbie)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/roberta_bobbie) _family_ Phyllis and Bobbie are sisters who share a warm, supportive relationship, with Bobbie often looking out for Phyllis. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother is a gentle and nurturing presence for Phyllis, providing comfort and guidance. ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/peter) _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 is a cheerful friend to Phyllis, often teasing her kindly and including her in activities. ### [Perks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/perks) _friendship_ Perks is a cheerful friend to Phyllis, often teasing her kindly and including her in activities. ## In the story ### [The Railway Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/the-railway-children) The youngest, imaginative and sometimes fearful, she joins her siblings in their railway adventures and shows a sweet, innocent nature. ### [The Beginning of Things](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/i-the-beginning-of-things) The youngest, well-meaning but sometimes clumsy, she falls into a puddle during the dark walk to the new house. ### [Peter's Coal-Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/ii-peter-s-coal-mine) Expresses dismay at the lack of supper, supports Peter's plan, and helps tidy the dining room. ### [The Old Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/iii-the-old-gentleman) Suggests waving to the Green Dragon to send love to Father, argues with Peter about coal, and learns about train couplings. ### [IV: The Engine-Burglar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/iv-the-engine-burglar) Compares Mother to 'Avenging and Bright'; helps plan Bobbie's birthday surprise. ### [Prisoners and Captives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/v-prisoners-and-captives) Makes imaginative comments about the weather; participates in the advertisement game and later listens to the story. ### [Saviours of the Train](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/vi-saviours-of-the-train) Reconciles with Perks by hugging him; enjoys being a heroine after the train is saved. ### [For Valour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/vii-for-valour) Participates in the award ceremony; brings tea to the Old Gentleman in a tin can; accidentally spills lemonade on her dress. ### [The Amateur Firemen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/viii-the-amateur-firemen) Helps pull Peter from the canal, holds the rescued baby, and suggests wearing red ribbons for future canal visits. ### [The Pride of Perks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/ix-the-pride-of-perks) Participates eagerly in the planning and is deeply upset when Perks reacts angrily. ### [The Terrible Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/x-the-terrible-secret) Goes to fetch the doctor for Peter and remains unaware of Bobbie's secret. ### [The Hound in the Red Jersey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xi-the-hound-in-the-red-jersey) Shows sympathy for Bobbie and later becomes frightened during the tunnel adventure. ### [What Bobbie Brought Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xii-what-bobbie-brought-home) Accompanies Peter to get help, despite her fear of the tunnel. ### [The Hound's Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xiii-the-hound-s-grandfather) Participates in tying Peter, breaks a cup while washing up, overhears Jim calling for his mother in the night. ### [The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xiv-the-end) Suggests resuming waving to the train; has trouble with her bootlace and stocking suspender. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/phyllis - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters