The Thomas the Tank Engine Test Shoots were a series of experiments filmed for Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends before the creation of the unaired pilot, Down the Mine.
Production[]
In 1980, 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. After meeting David Mitton it was decided that live-action model animation would be used.
According to Stephen Asquith, prior to filming of the pilot - Down the Mine - the crew experimented with O Gauge models using PECO track. For these tests, O Gauge models of Thomas and Lower Tidmouth were constructed. Concept art from Robert Gauld-Galliers shows that a signal box was also planned in this scale, however it is currently unknown whether or not this was built. While little is known about these tests, it is likely that they were unsuccessful and the models unreliable, as the crew would later move up to Gauge 1 for filming of the pilot and later the television series.
Reused Models[]
While the tests were unsuccessful, the O Gauge models of Thomas and Lower Tidmouth would later be modified and re-used for production of the first series. The station building for Lower Tidmouth was modified, with extensions being added to make it appear larger and thus in-scale with the Gauge 1 props used in the final production.
The model of Thomas, meanwhile, was cut up, repainted and turned into scrap dressing. The remnants of the cab and tanks can be seen throughout various episodes of the first series.
Preservation[]
The current whereabouts of the test footage - if it still exists at all - is unclear. The tests were unknown until 2023, when a document was put together listing all known information about the test shoots.
Characters[]
Gordon, Annie and Clarabel may have also appeared.
Locations[]
Trivia[]
- It is likely that the test shoots were filmed in March 1983, as a production packet from 1982 suggests that filming for Down the Mine was due to begin in March 1983, however actual filming began on 28 April 1983.
Gallery[]
Concept Art[]
Reused Models[]
