The Little Train that Saved the Day

By Charlotte Steiner

Copyright 1947

Stories about little trains helping bigger trains are not uncommon in the picture book world.  What small child doesn’t want to hear a story about a smaller, weaker character overcoming the odds to triumph over an older, seemingly stronger character?  A child’s life is constantly steered by adults, so the idea that he could somehow save the day all by himself is understandably appealing.  

In The Little Train that saved the Day, a hard-working little freight train happily goes about his business each day, pulling things wherever they need to go. He waits patiently for a big, shiny excursion train filled with passengers to pass by. As the little train goes about his work, he passes a group of happy people picnicking near a lake. The children wave, but the little freight train does not stop, for he does not carry passengers. At the end of the day, as the little train makes his way back home, he again passes the lake. This time, the picnickers line the tracks waving down the little train. 

“A small boy shouted, ‘Stop! Please take us back to the city. The excursion train has broken down.’”

The passengers all climb aboard and that little freight train carries them all back to the city. He has saved the day!

It just goes to show you that as small as you are, you never know when you will be called upon to do that big job.