Johan Louwet Having read the novel and than seeing first the 1970 version and than this one (twice) I must say the latter is the most faithful to the book and also the better movie. Not that the actors in the 1970 version didn't do a good job, but my main gripe was that the children (especially the girls) were too old to play the railway children. In the 2000 version we have 3 young talented actors playing the railway children. Clare Thomas was charming as Phyllis and Jack Blumenau fitting as Peter. But the best casting was Jemima Rooper as Bobbie. Even though technically not a minor anymore I think she portrayed the book version of Bobbie exactly as I imagined it. Jenny Agutter wasn't bad either as Bobbie in the 1970 version but I think the mother role fitted her better. But Jemima to me was the perfect Bobbie and as she is my favorite character in the story I was happy the focus was on her. A second favorite is Mr. Perks who was brilliantly portrayed by Gregor Fisher, serious but with a good sense of dry humour. The only thing I could fault the movie is that some parts were left out and that it went fast, a bit too fast sometimes. But still love it and it has an unlimited re-watch value for me.

rayfaetroon58 I have bought this title as in my opinion, it should be place next to the original version.It is worthy of the title. The fact it has Jenny Agutter as the Mother. In 'real time, it's as if the daughter has grown along with the time difference of the film dates. You cannot beat the original, especially the finale where Roberta says "Daddy my Daddy" a line which still brings a lump to my throat when I see the film again.I would like to add that I have a DVD titled The Railway Grandchildren. A title that is not listed on the IMDb? Could IMDb confirm or deny my findings through this format?

didi-5 This (perhaps superfluous) version of the Edith Nesbit novel was made for TV and, in an interesting piece of casting, had Jenny Agutter as the mother – she had been eldest daughter Bobbie thirty years earlier. Some changes to the fabric of the story were inevitable: more screen time is given to the events which cause the children's father to be arrested; the paper chase is no longer linked to the family of the old gentleman; and some of the characters are more sharply drawn than before.As Bobbie, Jemima Rooper, is very good, but the other children Phyllis and Peter are just OK (played by Clare Thomas and Jack Blumenau). Agutter is perfect as their careworn mother, while Michael Kitchen makes an impact as their wronged father. Gregor Fisher plays Perks the railway-man with a good combination of jollity and righteous indignation; and Richard Attenborough is an inspired choice for the old gentleman (who is not as mysterious as he had been in the 1970s version; we guess he's a high-up in the civil service or the government in this one).The great strength of the TV version is the attention to detail - we can feel the smoky fog from the 30s steam train as it rushes through the countryside.An enjoyable TV film, but a complement to the classic one, not a replacement.

Davcat What a sheer delight this TV film was. I saw it last night (Sunday, 23 April 2000) as it premiered on TV, and really enjoyed it. Jenny Agutter, as Mother (originally oldest daughter in the 1970 version) took a bit of a back seat, but I thought the young actors who played her children did a splendid job. This was particularly so for the oldest daughter (Bobbie, played by Jemima Rooper) who was very convincing in her roll. The young lad (Peter, played by Jack Blumenau) was a real natural as well. Hard to fault, but I was not sure of Gregor Fisher's roll as the Station Keeper, Perks. He tends to be too typecast in the UK, as an underclass Scotsman, to carry the roll off very well. I highly recommend this film - it really is a breath of fresh air, when we suffer so much from films which show much bleak dystopia, or over-sugary romantic mush. Well done to all involved - including the first class (pun!) actors, like the "Old Gentleman". A real treat.