# Roberta (Bobbie) — The Railway Children character guide > Roberta (Bobbie) in The Railway Children by E. Nesbit. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Bobbie, Bob, Dear Roberta, Dear Bob, Dear Bobbie, Bert **First appearance:** 0001-the-railway-children ## Snapshot The eldest of three, whose steady courage and quick thinking turn a shattering family upheaval into a series of small, brave rescues. ## Who they are Roberta is the child her mother might quietly have favoured, and the one who most feels the family's fall from the red-brick villa to a cottage by the railway. Where Peter schemes and Phyllis blurts, Bobbie watches, remembers, and acts — the one who notices when grown-ups are keeping secrets. Her mix of tenderness and nerve makes her the story's moral centre, the child through whom the railway stops being scenery and becomes a lifeline. ## Relationships ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother and Bobbie share a deeply affectionate and supportive bond, with Bobbie often acting as her mother's confidante and helper. ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/peter) _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_ Phyllis and Bobbie are sisters who share a warm, supportive relationship, with Bobbie often looking out for Phyllis. ### [Perks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/perks) _friendship_ Perks, the railway porter, becomes a trusted friend to Bobbie, who often seeks his advice and company. ### [Jim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/jim) _friendship_ Jim is a young man injured in a railway tunnel whom Bobbie helps rescue, leading to a grateful friendship. ### [Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/father) _family_ Father is a devoted parent to Bobbie, and her memories of him are filled with love and longing. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother and Bobbie share a deeply affectionate and supportive bond, with Bobbie often acting as her mother's confidante and helper. ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/peter) _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 and Bobbie share a deeply affectionate and supportive bond, with Bobbie often acting as her mother's confidante and helper. ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/peter) _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_ Phyllis and Bobbie are sisters who share a warm, supportive relationship, with Bobbie often looking out for Phyllis. ### [Phyllis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/phyllis) _family_ Phyllis and Bobbie are sisters who share a warm, supportive relationship, with Bobbie often looking out for Phyllis. ## In the story ### [The Railway Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/the-railway-children) The eldest child, thoughtful and observant, she takes on a nurturing role and is deeply affected by the family's change in circumstances. ### [The Beginning of Things](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/i-the-beginning-of-things) The eldest child, thoughtful and observant, she notices her mother's distress and tries to comfort her. ### [Peter's Coal-Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/ii-peter-s-coal-mine) Acts as a peacemaker, defends Peter to the Station Master, and helps light the fire at Three Chimneys. ### [The Old Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/iii-the-old-gentleman) Acts as head-nurse when Mother is ill, shows understanding of Mother's sadness, and mediates between Peter and Phyllis. ### [IV: The Engine-Burglar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/iv-the-engine-burglar) Accidentally becomes an 'engine-burglar' by climbing into a moving train's cab; learns about engine mechanics and makes friends with the crew. ### [Prisoners and Captives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/v-prisoners-and-captives) Shows compassion by offering her handkerchief and holding the stranger's hand; insists on helping him. ### [Saviours of the Train](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/vi-saviours-of-the-train) Leads the effort to save the train by waving flags, faints from exhaustion and relief. ### [For Valour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/vii-for-valour) Shows deep empathy and silent support for Mother's unhappiness; takes the lead in asking the Old Gentleman for help with the Russian refugee. ### [The Amateur Firemen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/viii-the-amateur-firemen) First to spot the fire and rush to alert the bargewoman; rescues the baby and later nurses it. ### [The Pride of Perks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/ix-the-pride-of-perks) Takes the lead in organizing the birthday surprise for Perks, showing empathy and concern for his feelings. ### [The Terrible Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/x-the-terrible-secret) Discovers the terrible secret of her father's imprisonment and struggles to cope with the knowledge while maintaining her composure. ### [The Hound in the Red Jersey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xi-the-hound-in-the-red-jersey) Discovers the secret of her father's imprisonment and writes to the Old Gentleman for help; later leads the rescue mission into the tunnel. ### [What Bobbie Brought Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xii-what-bobbie-brought-home) Stays with the injured Jim, tends to his leg, and comforts him in the dark tunnel. ### [The Hound's Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xiii-the-hound-s-grandfather) Leads the tying-up of Peter to stop his gruesome talk; receives private hope from the Old Gentleman about Father's innocence. ### [The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/chapters/xiv-the-end) Senses something significant is about to happen; feels restless and seeks solitude; goes to the station to talk to Perks. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters/roberta_bobbie - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_railway_children_se/characters