In this folder, the stories are all set in the year 2013, the year Season 17 came out. The following adaptation you're about to read was actually completed in January, but I never got around to posting it. Oh and if you're wondering about Camille, she's a character that was created by my friend 'D.J. Scales' and is used with his permission.

Salty's Replacement?

Based on "Away From the Sea" (2013)

Edward's branch line has many engines working on it. One of the most friendly engines there is a little red diesel named Salty. He came to the branch line in 2002 and ever since, has proven to be a hard working dockside diesel. He loves working there and wouldn't want to anywhere else, not even a quarry.

When he first arrived on Sodor, he was sent to the Ffarquhar quarry to help with an important order. He was unhappy there because he was so far away from the sea, but once he was told he was to work at Brendam Docks on Edward's branch line, he cheered up at once and hasn't lost the cheerful attitude since.

"Don't take me away from the sea boys, don't take me away from the sea," he sang to the trucks.

Bill and Ben watched him work, "I still don't know how he manages those trucks," Bill whispered to Ben, "he makes the job look so easy."

Before Ben could agree, there came a coughing sound, followed by a crash. They looked to see that Salty had stopped suddenly and his trucks went crashing into some buffers.

"Ow, that hurt," they groaned.

"Sorry me hearties, didn't mean to stop like that. Me engine must have some baricals, nothing that a breath of sea air can't fix."

But Salty's Driver wasn't so sure about that, "your engine's been acting like this for a while now and this is the third incident you've had. I'm starting to think that being close to the sea is doing harm to your engine."

"Nonsense, I've worked at dockyards for years and never had a problem."

Salty rattled out of the siding to do some more shunting, but now his engine was making spluttering noises which considered everyone, even Cranky.

"You should go to the Dieselworks and have that engine of yours looked over," he called.

"No thank you Captain, I rather not, me engine is fine."

Salty thought that if he went to the works, they may say they agree with his Driver, inform the Fat Controller and then it's back to the quarry with him. No matter what, he was determined to stay at the docks.

A few days later, Salty was arranging trucks for BoCo to take when he heard an unfamilar whistle. He looked down the tracks and saw a grey tank engine with yellow hazard stripes and three domes puff in with a brake van in tow.

"Ahoy there matey," Salty called cheerfully, "what brings you here to our dockyards?"

"I'm here to help out as workloads are increasing," answered the engine. "My name's Porter, what's yours?"

"They call me Salty laddie, the dockside diesel." He greeted Porter with a cheerful honk on his horn, but then he started coughing and spluttering again. "Sorry, a little splutter with me engine. So you say you're here to help with workloads?"

"Yep, and I'm also here to work in your place," came the reply.

Salty was aghast, "but I'm not going anywhere, my engine's just fine."

"The Fat Controller knows that, but he wants you to go to the Dieselworks just to make sure you don't break down. He also said," Porter continued, "that after you shunt the goods train together, you have to shunt yourself onto that train as it's going to Vicarstown."

Salty didn't like the idea, but he knew better than to go aganist orders. He finished his shunting and was coupled up to the train. When BoCo arrived, he coupled up to Salty and rattled away.

"Don't worry Salty, they'll have you fixed up in no time," BoCo said kindly.

"I hope it's quickly, otherwise I'll be out of a job," but he said it to himself.

It took a few days for Salty's engine to be fixed, so Porter was kept busy working alone at the docks. He didn't mind as there was always someone to talk to.

"Why do you have three domes?" Bill asked one day. "You look like a camel."

"Hush," snapped Molly. "That's no way to speak to newcomers."

Porter just chuckled, "no it's okay, I've been called that many times before, even back in the States, that's where I came from by the way. Anyways, I have only one steam dome, but the other two hold all the sand I need."

"But why are they up there?" Ben asked.

"It's to help keep the sand warm and dry for any use."

To prove his point, Porter backed up a bit, dropping sand on the rails.

The twins and Molly were impressed.

At the Dieselworks, the workers were working away on the Diesel shunter, but Salty was getting impatient. Camille, the daughter of Diesel's Driver and one of the workers, could see this.

"Calm yourself down Salty, you're getting yourself worked up over nothing."

"Oh you don't understand lass, if I don't get back to the docks soon, the new engine Porter will have my job, and the captain; the Fat Controller, will have me sent back to the quarry."

"No," gasped Den.

"Impossible," said Camille. "You're a dockside diesel for crying out loud, not a quarry engine like Mavis."

"I know," groaned Salty. "I know."

Finally, Salty's engine was fixed and was working perfectly again. Salty coupled up to a brake van and started away, singing a little sea shantie. But he hadn't gone far before...

"Look out!"

CRASH! Salty bashed into some trucks, making oil barrels fly and spilling their oil everywhere, including on Salty.

"I tried to warn you," said Sidney from another line. "You should go back into the shops and have yourself cleaned up Salty."

"No thank you matey, I'll be fine," he said with a smile on his face. "As long as my engine works perfectly, I'm going to head back to the docks."

And so he left, without getting cleaned up first. Sidney had a feeling Salty would land in trouble.

"Gotta get back, gotta get back," Salty muttered to himself. "Must save my job, must save my job."

Suddenly, his wheels slipped on the rails. The oil was dripping down from his frames and onto the rails, "Steady boy," cautioned his Driver and he turned a lever. This in turn released sand out of Salty's sand box, allowing him to grip the rails again.

"Hmm, I could do with a little wash," he admitted. "I'm sure the workmen wouldn't mind once I finish my jobs."

At the docks, BoCo was coupling up to some China Clay hoods when he heard Salty's horn. Moments later, the diesel shunted came into view.

"Ahoy maties, your old pal Salty is back on the job," he cheered happily.

His Driver applied the brakes, but Salty just slid on the rails. He wasn't smiling now. All of his sand boxes were empty and now he was heading straight to some empty china clay trucks Bill and Ben were suppose to take away. He bashed into them, but he still couldn't stop, he just kept sliding along.

Porter could see this and knew what to do.

"Let's stop him," he said to his Driver.

The Driver nodded and opened the regulator. Porter charged forward and bashed right into the other end of Salty's train. Using his own sand and brakes, Porter was able to slow the runaway down and bring it to a safe stop.

"Yes, that worked," smiled Porter. "You alright Mate?"

"Yes, but I know what the captain will say once he learns of this."

"He already knows," said a voice. There standing on the quayside was the Fat Controller. "Salty, I am not impressed with you rushing into the docks and nearly causing an accident. Thank goodness Porter was here."

"Yes I guess so Sir," sighed Salty.

"Still, I like to know why you were rushing and not willing to go to the Dieselworks in the first place."

"Well Sir, I was worried that Porter would take over and you would send me back to the quarry." Salty paused before adding, "which I'm sure you're going to do anyways."

The Fat Controller was surprised by this, "of course not, I have no intensions of sending you away."

"Oh?" Salty raised an eyebrow when he heard this. "Then are you sending Porter away Sir?"

"No of course not, no one's going anywhere. I brought Porter here to help you with your work since the docks are becoming busier than ever, as Cranky knows all too well." He eyed the big crane, who turned away. "This is to help you Salty, not replace you."

"Oh thank you Captain," smiled Salty. "I'm sure Porter and I will get along just fine."

"I sure hope so."

While Salty was being cleaned, Porter went along the line Salty used and poured plenty of sand to cover the dripping oil. Then after that, the two engines went to work shunting trucks around the yards. The trucks of course tried to play tricks on Porter, but after Salty taught him his secret of singing to the trucks, he found that shunting was no trouble at all.

Salty is glad to have Porter helping out at the docks, but he's happiest being at the docks, where he truely belongs. Working and singing all the way.

"Don't take me away from the Sea Boys, don't take me away from the Sea."

As for Porter, I'm sure he's going to enjoy working alongside Salty at the docks, but there's still the matter of Bill and Ben. That however will have to wait for the next story.