Away from the Sea

**Away from the Sea** is the twentieth episode of the eleventh season and the 250th episode overall.

## Plot

Salty loves to work by the sea, but he still remembers how when he first arrived on Sodor, he was sent to work at Ffarquhar Quarry. One day, Salty's engine sounds a little spluttery which concerns Cranky and Edward, who both suggest he go to the Dieselworks. But Salty refuses, fearing that he might be sent back to the quarry.

When a new steam engine named Porter arrives to help out, Salty greets him and asks him why he has three domes. Porter explains that two of his domes are sandboxes, ready to pour sand onto the rails if they become slippery. The Fat Controller arrives and tells Salty that Porter is to help out while he is at the Dieselworks being repaired. Salty tries to explain that it is only a splutter, but the Fat Controller has made up his mind. The dockside diesel begins to fear that Porter will do a better job at the docks than him.

Later, Salty pulls into the Dieselworks where Den and Dart are waiting. He tells them both about Porter and that if Salty is not repaired soon, Porter will take his job and the Fat Controller will send the diesel to the quarry. Den and Dart begin to worry. Meanwhile back at the docks, Porter is asking Cranky lots of questions about his work, which Cranky does not like. But he can tell that Porter will be really useful at the dockside.

A while later, Salty's engine finally sounds as good as new and he hurries out of the workshop as fast as he can. Unfortunately, he is so busy rushing that he accidentally runs into some flatbeds loaded with oil barrels and ends up covered in sticky oil. Den and Dart see this and suggest Salty return for a wash, but he refuses and hurries away towards Brendam.

Salty is dripping with oil as he powers on his way and the oil drips under his wheels, making them slip across the rails. But like Porter, Salty has his own sandboxes and uses them to get a grip on the tracks. Soon he reaches the top of a hill and sees the docks in the distance.

Salty rolls happily back into the docks, but suddenly starts to slide uncontrollably across the rails. To make matters worse, his sandbox is empty and he keeps sliding right into some trucks filled with party decorations. Porter notices that the diesel is in trouble and charges into the other end of the line of trucks to act as a counterweight. Finally, Salty stops, covered in confetti and feeling very silly. He is sure that the Fat Controller will send him to the quarry now, but he is wrong. The Fat Controller has seen all and explains that Salty has been a silly engine for causing trouble, but he is really useful again now that his engine is fixed, also telling Salty that Porter will be staying at the docks to work with him.

While Salty is being cleaned, Porter drops sand on the rails where Salty had been sliding. Salty now enjoys working with Porter and is especially happy to be staying at his favourite place on Sodor - Brendam Docks.

## Characters

* Edward
* Porter
* Mavis
* Salty
* Den
* Dart
* Cranky
* The Fat Controller
* Bill and Ben *(cameos)*
* BoCo *(cameo)*
* Murdoch *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Brendam Docks
* Elsbridge Cricket Field
* Hackenbeck Tunnel
* Ffarquhar Quarry
* Vicarstown Dieselworks
* Suddery Hill

## Voice Cast

* Steven Kynman as Porter and Dart
* Teresa Gallagher as Mavis
* Keith Wickham as Salty, Den and the Fat Controller
* Matt Wilkinson as Cranky

## Trivia

* This is the 250th episode of the Sodor Stories series.
* This is the first episode since the seventh season episode, Salty's Stormy Tale to feature Salty as the main character.
* This is Mavis' only speaking role in the eleventh season.
* This episode marks the first appearance of Porter in the series.

## References to Other Stories

* The events of the sixth season episode, Salty's Secret, are shown in a flashback.