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Original poster

Railway Fiction

71 replies

HonoriaBulstrode · 02/10/2025 21:20

A blogger I follow was noting the bicentenary of the start of the Railway Age and remarked on how often railway journeys feature in books and films.

So, favourite fictional railway journeys?

Agatha Christie wote at least three books in which a railway journey is integral to the plot.
Lots of train travel in the Chalet School series. I think I like the wartime journeys best, they're the most realistic.
And if you include railway stations, Brief Encounter of course.
And in Casablanca, when Ilsa doesn't turn up to get the train out of Paris and Rick has to leave without her.

What else?

OP posts:
TheNightingalesStarling · 03/10/2025 09:29

When my kids were Primary age they had a great series called "Adventures on Trains" starting with the Highland Falcon Thief. By MG Leonard.

FinnJuhl · 03/10/2025 09:25

Some good recommendations, thanks. I recently read Tokyo Express by Seicho Matsumoto, an engaging little detective story, about the intricacies of the Japanese railway system.

Original poster
HonoriaBulstrode · 03/10/2025 09:17

Buchan is very good at landscapes, and not just in his native Scotland.

Gatehouse of Fleet also features in DLS's Five Red Herrings. Trains and train timetables play a large part in that.

there's the transcontinental train journey to California in The Painted Garden.

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pollyhemlock · 03/10/2025 09:05

JoanChitty · 03/10/2025 08:45

The 39 steps. John Buchan

I was going to say this . The little station ‘set in the heart of a bog’ where Hannay gets off the train is based on Gatehouse of Fleet station. The line is long gone, but the landscape is very evocative and there’s a massive viaduct still standing.

EverybodyLTB · 03/10/2025 08:56

These are ‘real’ not novels, but Monisha Rajesh has written books called Moonlight Express about her experiences on night trains around the world, and Around the World in 80 Trains. I love trains, night trains in particular.

As a train lover, I soothe anxiety by listening to train soundtracks on YouTube - the one I’ve linked below is a wintery, snowy one.

JennyChawleigh · 03/10/2025 08:51

The Paris Express - new book by Emma Donohue - really detailed description of a 19th century train journey.

JoanChitty · 03/10/2025 08:45

The 39 steps. John Buchan

SerafinasGoose · 03/10/2025 08:42

The Railway Man, Lomax
The Railway Children, Nesbit
Murder on the Orient Express, Christie
The Wheel Spins, White
Five go off to Camp, Blyton (the spook trains!)

I also loved the three-day rail trip from the mid-west
To Connecticut in ‘What Katy did at School’.

Mydadsbirthday · 03/10/2025 08:35

Not a journey, but set in the world of railways - La Bête Humaine, by Zola

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HonoriaBulstrode · 02/10/2025 22:44

I always love how in Sherlock Holmes they can look up train times in a big published book

What we all did, pre-internet. I remember going to the library to look up train journeys when I was going on holiday.

The vocabulary of 'Bradshaw' is nervous and terse, but limited.

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Xiaoxiong · 02/10/2025 22:33

I always love how in Sherlock Holmes they can look up train times in a big published book and they're never delayed or on strike.

princessbear80 · 02/10/2025 22:30

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins is a great book.

Noodledoodledoo · 02/10/2025 22:28

Lots of Enid Blyton have the journeys to school on trains.

ElizabethVonArnim · 02/10/2025 22:17

Travels with my Aunt by Graham Greene
4.50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie
I quite liked Girl on the Train as well.

Original poster
HonoriaBulstrode · 02/10/2025 22:06

Strangers on A Train and The Lady Vanishes.

And Night Train to Munich. And Pimpernel Smith has a train journey.

There’s a whole series of books by Edward Marston about the “Railway Detective”, set in early days of the railways.

Andrew Martin also has a series about a railwayman who turned to detecting railway crime.

OP posts:
crossant · 02/10/2025 21:37

Hogwarts Express

Chocolateisameal · 02/10/2025 21:36

There’s a whole series of books by Edward Marston about the “Railway Detective”, set in early days of the railways.

GingerPaste · 02/10/2025 21:35

I just read the Railway Children. It’s not a journey but still a good book (and I also watched the film - the 2000 re-make).

Tortielady · 02/10/2025 21:34

Stamboul Train - Graham Greene

Sheeppig · 02/10/2025 21:23

Strangers on A Train and The Lady Vanishes.