The Birth of Dirtypantz tells the biographical story of Geoffrey Hayes (Kris Marshall), a Ticket Inspector in service with the Transpennine Express Train Company. After almost choking on a pineapple flavoured Jolly Rancher in 1979,  Geoffrey awakens in 1977 to find himself working for a predecessor of the Transpennine Express, the First North Western/Arriva Trains Northern, and placed on gardening leave whilst he recuperates in The Cross Lane Hospital for the Mentally Handicapped, Scarborough.