Joe and his parents are enjoying a summer holiday by the sea at the Ocean Star Hotel. The sky is bright blue, the sun shines and Joe loves all that the seaside has to offer.

Then the fog rolls in and rain falls Joe begins to wish that he was back at home. However, things change when the owner of the hotel, Mr Robertson, invites him to share in a magical world that exists upstairs in the large loft. 'We'll be back in time for tea,' Mr Robertson tells him.

The loft is black as night but suddenly above his head a thousand tiny stars begin to sparkle and in the distance Joe hears a distant chug-chug-chug and sees a tiny light approaching.

He is suddenly transported as though travelling in a train to a world of snow-capped mountains, great deserts, and rocking fishing boats. After the journey is over Mr Robertson offers to put Joe on the train any time that he chooses to go to the loft so that he can travel round the world in the train again!

That night Joe dreams of travelling in the Ocean Express and he sleeps peacefully, dreaming of another journey on the model train.

A lovely heartwarming story, delightfully illustrated by Peter Sutton.