An elderly right-wing politician is kidnapped, seemingly as part of a student prank. But his captors have a more alarming agenda.

A young train spotter heads to Staffordshire for a historic journey through a soon to be condemned tunnel. During his trip, he encounters a series of eccentric characters. With his passion for the railways and naïve disposition, Benjamin inadvertently encourages them to reveal their innermost fears and darkest secrets.

On Earth in 2018, the Doctor and his companions are enmeshed in a deadly web of intrigue thanks to his uncanny resemblance to the scientist/politician Salamander. He is hailed as the "shopkeeper of the world" for his efforts to relieve global famine, but why do his rivals keep disappearing? How can he predict so many natural disasters? The Doctor must expose Salamander's schemes before he takes over the world.