Rapido Trains UK have announced a new train pack based on the 1970 film "The Railway Children". Containing the iconic locomotive, three coaches and even 3D-printed figures of the railway children themselves.
‘The Railway Children’ is an enchanting children’s novel that was written by Edith Nesbit in 1906. Nesbit lived a tumultuous life and resided in a variety of abodes across Kent and the Southeast. Many of these had one thing in common: their proximity to the railway line. Nesbit was an established children's writer by 1906, when she published her most famous work, ‘The Railway Children’. The story follows Peter, Phyllis and Bobbie. The three children are torn away from the comforts of their middle-class London lifestyle to live in the Yorkshire countryside. They arrive to find their new home is a dilapidated cottage named ‘Three Chimneys’ that faces the railway line. With their lives thrown into chaos, they pass the time by waving at trains, which were often hauled by a locomotive they dubbed ‘The Green Dragon’. Their adventures include befriending the local station porter, Mr. Perks, and an old gentleman who regularly travels on the 9:15 am train.
As the story progresses, they assist a Russian man who's searching for his family, saving the day by preventing a train from colliding with a landslip and aiding a young boy who was injured during a paper chase. The old gentleman (a director of the railway company), in turn, helps them reunite the Russian man with his family and free their father from prison, who had been wrongly accused of spying. Since its publication, this wholesome tale has been adapted for the big screen, small screen, and stage. However, the definitive rendition is considered to be the 1970 movie. Amongst a fantastic cast, the movie stars Jenny Agutter as Bobbie, Sally Thomsett as Phyllis, Gary Warren as Peter, and the legendary Bernard Cribbins as Mr Perks. Capturing the imagination of people of all ages, this classic movie is heralded as one of the greatest family films of all time. Beloved by railway enthusiasts and their families alike, it has charmed fans across generations.
The Rapido Trains UK highly detailed and fully-licensed OO Gauge ‘The Railway Children’ Train Pack will be available in DCC Ready and DCC sound-fitted versions. All sets contain the following items:
• Great Northern and Southern Railway No. 957 ‘Green Dragon’ 0-6-0. Featuring a highly detailed diecast metal and injection moulded construction, separately fitted details, a firebox flicker with a dynamic fire draw effect, a MoPower stay-alive and a 21-Pin DCC decoder socket. DCC Sound-fitted versions of the pack also upgrade the ‘Green Dragon’ to include a full range of sounds and dialogue from the original motion picture. This is in addition to the detailed sound file of the locomotive itself.
• A triple pack of Great Northern and Southern Railway Evolution Coaches featuring a non-corridor brake third, all-third, and all-first in GNSR livery. The coaches contain working internal lighting, and with easily removable roofs, allowing modellers to fit figures, should they wish.
• The train packs include full colour 3D-printed figures of the movie's three main characters.
• Also included is a selection of collectable memorabilia, including a Great Northern and Southern Railway poster, tickets, and a print of the famous ‘Green Dragon’ by well-known railway artist Jonathan Clay.
For those interested in the locomotive, Rapido Trains UK have also announced a range of prototypical versions. Find out more here.
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