The Best Books About Trains | National Reading Day 2022

It was National Reading Day on the 23rd of January 2022, and on this day, we are all encouraged to pick up a book and let our imaginations run wild. Wherever you are in the world, you can always find comfort in reading. 

There’s sometimes no better way to escape the routine of your day-to-day life than by getting well and truly lost in a book. As a rail recruitment service, it’ll also come as no surprise that when it comes to fiction, we might have a little bit of a preference for stories about trains, or ones that at least feature a certain mode of transportation!

In honour of National Reading Day 2022, we wanted to pay tribute to some of the best fiction books about trains, as well as just some of our favourites. At Clemtech, we are always looking out for our clients. We want to offer staffing solutions to all elements of the rail industry and rolling stock manufacturing sector, from site managers to specialist recruiters. 

That’s why we have positions available in all aspects of rolling stock jobs, rolling stock and asset management, including civil engineering roles and engine fitting positions, and we also provide permanent and temporary labour recruitment solutions for rail teams across the UK and Europe. So, without further ado, here are some of our favourite books about trains that you can read, whether it’s National Reading Day or otherwise. 

5 Iconic Books About Trains You’ll Love Reading

The Railway Children (1906) by Edith Nesbit

The Railway Children is about a family which relocate from London to ‘The Three Chimneys,’ a property near a railway, after the father, who works at the Foreign Office, is wrongfully suspected of espionage and imprisoned accordingly. Roberta (nicknamed “Bobbie”), Peter, and Phyllis become friends with an elderly gentleman who rides the 9:15 a.m. steam train near their home, and together they seek to prove their father’s innocence. 

Six times, including four television series, a feature film, and a made-for-television film, the plot has been adapted for the screen. This year marks the release of a sequel to the 1970 film version, so now is the ideal opportunity to brush up on your Railway Children trivia before the adaptation hits the silver screen.

The Girl on the Train (2015) by Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train debuted at number one on The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 2015 list (print and e-book) on February 1, 2015, and stayed there for 13 weeks in a row until April 2015. 

For two weeks in January 2016, it was the best-selling book once more. It tells the stories of three women dealing with relationship problems and, in the case of the leading character, the troubles that alcohol addiction can bring. This is an excellent read if you are searching for something thrilling.

The Polar Express (1985) by Chris Van Allsburg

Somewhat of a modern festive classic, this Christmas tale follows the story of a child who is startled awake by the sound of a train outside of his house on the night of Christmas Eve. This train goes by the name of “The Polar Express”, and is making its way to the North Pole so that Father Christmas can bestow one of the children aboard with the very first gift of Christmas.

Every single year, families around the world settle down at Christmas time to watch the big-screen adaptation of this story. In a 2012 vote by School Library Journal, it was named one of the “Top 100 Picture Books” of all time, and we can easily see why. This tale has touched both adults and children, and it will always continue to do so. The Polar Express is guaranteed to rekindle the Christmas spirit in practically anybody.

Murder on the Orient Express (1934) by Agatha Christie

Murder on the Orient Express is a classic ‘whodunit’ detective novel written by English author and literary legend Agatha Christie, which stars Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. If you love trains, however, this might make you never want to take another train journey again. 

 The Orient Express, a beautiful train from the 1930s, is halted by severe snowfall. Poirot’s voyage home to London from the Middle East is disrupted when a murder is uncovered on the train, and he must solve the case before the snow can melt and the killer can escape.

This tale of deception and mystery has been the talk of the crime fiction genre for years and will remain a staple of the genre for many years to come. Agatha Christie is an author that always keeps you guessing, and her unpredictable stories and brilliantly written characters are just some of the reasons why readers continue to read and reread her works. 

This story also hasn’t been shy when it comes to on-screen adaptations, with its most recent reproduction being Kenneth Branagh’s take on the tale back in 2017.  

A Bear Called Paddington (1958) by Michael Bond

With his old hat, battered luggage, duffel coat, and love of marmalade, the amiable spectacled bear from “darkest Peru” has become a legendary character from British children’s fiction. Paddington is discovered by the Brown family at Paddington railway station in London, sitting on his luggage with a note attached to his coat that reads “Please take care of this bear. Thank you very much.” The stories depict Paddington’s escapades and misadventures in England, and the United Kingdom has adored him since he first appeared in our bookstores in 1958.

Books About Trains Conclusion

There you have it; a collection of novels and stories that have rail transport at the heart and soul of them. Although some of these stories are classics from a time long ago, and although some of these tales might be more recent, the importance and significance of these books and the characters within them will never be forgotten. 

Whether you’re an avid reader, or simply enjoy flipping through a few pages every now and then, we hope that at least one of our favourite books about trains takes your fancy, and you enjoy escaping to another world, at least for a little while. 

Every member of the team here at Clemtech is focused on improving both the client and candidate experience from the initial inquiry to the final invoice. Our team combines the best skills; as a single, well-coordinated unit, we’ve delivered anything from single requirements to substantial, time-critical projects. Please do not hesitate to contact us, either through our phone number or our email address, if you require any additional information, or would just like to talk about future potential opportunities.