Down the Mine (Unaired Pilot)

Down the Mine is the original unaired 1983 test pilot of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. It was filmed, but never broadcast.

Production
In 1979, Britt Allcroft acquired the rights to adapt the Railway Series for television. She spent over two years meeting animators and watching test reels deciding on what type of animation would be used for the series. After meeting David Mitton, Allcroft decided that live-action model animation would be used. A low budget, pre-production test pilot episode was produced to pitch the series to several networks on 3rd April 1983. The pilot was based on the Railway Series story Down the Mine. After the series was greenlit by ITV, the story was later refilmed as the twenty-fifth episode of the first series.

Differences with Final Version
The pilot version had simpler sets, fewer characters, and flatter lighting. The models of Thomas and Gordon were also different. The models used, including the wheels, were scratch-built by Martin Gilland were more simplistic in appearance. They were never tested before being filmed in front of the camera and proved to be unreliable. All of the models used later in the series would use the more dependable Märklin chassis.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Sir Topham Hatt

Locations

 * Lower Tidmouth
 * Knapford
 * The Lead Mines

Preservation
The pilot was never publicly released, only appearing in test screenings, and it is currently unknown where the footage is or who possesses it. No stills are known to exist. However, Thomas' pilot model was briefly seen in the aired version of Down the Mine.

Trivia

 * Britt Allcroft mortgaged her house to fund this episode's production.
 * According to Robert Gauld-Galliers, it is currently unknown as to where the pilot footage is. He also stated that, although he was unsure as to who watched the first screening of the episode, it did get a positive response.
 * The pilot only took 3 weeks (15 business days) to film between March and April 1983.
 * Out of the 15 business days it took to film it, only 10 were used to film the actual pilot.
 * The pilot was filmed on Clearwater Battersea Studio's 'C' Stage.

Behind the Scenes
Thomas' pilot model

Gordon's pilot model