Down the Mine (Unaired Pilot)

This article is about the unaired pilot. You may be looking for the re-filmed televised episode, the Buzz Book, the German DVD or the Philippine DVD.

Down the Mine

Episode Overview

Writer

The Rev. W. Awdry (original story)
Britt Allcroft and David Mitton (adaptation)

Director

David Mitton

Producer

Narrator

Ringo Starr

Release Details

Series

1

Series no.

1.00

Released

Unaired (Test screened mid-1983)

Episode Guide
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Thomas and Gordon/ Thomas Gets Tricked

“The pilot episode was a very good path finding exercise for us.... No doubt it'll be discovered in a rusting tin at some point in the future.”

―Robert Gauld-Galliers

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

Production

In 1979, Britt Allcroft acquired the rights to produce episodes based on 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 - classical, stop motion, clay, or CGI. After meeting David Mitton it was 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 and differed from the final aired version. After the series was greenlit by ITV, the episode 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 Gill and 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

Locations

Preservation

The pilot was never publicly released, only appearing in test screenings, and it is currently unknown as to 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 with her bank in order to fund 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, the response was positive.

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