When Father is taken away unexpectedly, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and their mother have to leave their comfortable life in London to go and live in a small cottage in the country. The children seek solace in the nearby railway station, and make friends with Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. Each day, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis run down the field to the railway track and 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.

When Father is taken away unexpectedly, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and their mother have to leave their comfortable life in London to go and live in a small cottage in the country. The children seek solace in the nearby railway station, and make friends with Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. Each day, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis run down the field to the railway track and 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.

Charming in its way, though more than a little preachy and optimistically naive. Puts me in mind of Keats's opinion that "We hate poetry that has a palpable design upon us." Could have been subtitled "People Will Help You if You're Wealthy and Then Get in Trouble." ( )

I have always loved the film, in fact it is probably my favourite family film , the book is very close in content to the film and therefore wonderful and it has the Oh My Daddy bit at the end which always gets me in the film. This is my first time reading the book- loved it. ( )

The story of three children. One day men come and take their father away. The children don't know why. Their mother moves the family to a small house near the railway. There they have adventures and make friends. They fight sometimes and sometimes get in trouble. ( )