The Railway Children is a riches-to-rags-and-back-again story in terms of its plot structure. At the novel’s opening, the privileged nature of the children’s lives in London is strongly emphasized through the description of their large, comfortable home full of “every modern convenience” (5), and the fact that “these lucky children always had everything they needed” (6). After their father’s imprisonment, the children’s new lives in the countryside forms a stark contrast to the lives they led before. Mother warns them that they now must “play at being poor for a bit” (24) and the children soon find themselves unable to even eat as much as before, as “there were buns for tea” only when Mother can sell a piece of her writing (65).

The children try to make the best of things by seeking out new connections with others and new ways to have meaning in their lives. Mother urges them to “be cheerful” (33) even in their own surroundings, and the children often seek to maintain a positive attitude despite their hardships. The children still try to do good deeds for others, such as when they attempt to surprise Mr. Perks on his birthday with gifts in Chapter 9.