Thomas & Friends: Down the Mine (Partially Found Unaired 1983 Pilot)

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Thomas & Friends: Down the Mine (Partially Found Unaired 1983 Pilot)
Footage of the pilot
Current Status	Partially Found

In the early 1980s before The Railway Series books by Rev W. Awdry of Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends were receiving the greenlight to be adapted into a television series, a low-budget pilot episode was made and was pitched to several networks in April 3, 1983. The pilot was based off the story called Down The Mine from the eighth book from The Railway Series, Gordon the Big Engine. Visually the pilot is largely consistent with the final series, using similar camera angles and featuring the same locations as the final episode. The pilot was used strictly for screening purposes, however, a shot from the twenty fifth episode of the first season, Down The Mine (which is also the name of the pilot), was re-used from the pilot episode. Thomas sits on a hand built plastic chassis, with plunger pickups providing power to his motor and smoke unit. Minor details such as lining and lamp irons are missing. This chassis caused much trouble during shooting, and so the decision was made to use modified off-the-shelf Marklin chassis for the final series.

Photos of Gordon's pilot model, by engine builders Martin Gill and David Payne can be found in an interview with Christopher Noulton by Sodor Island Fansite.

Gallery

Presumed pilot model of Thomas pictured on a Hornby Thomas toy box

Gordon's original pilot model (Note: the pilot models are lower-budget)

Closeup of Gordon's original pilot model

Gordon's original pilot model, cab closeup

A signal box used the pilot

The original pilot model for a driver.

Knapford in the pilot

Possible image of the pilot showing Thomas' whistle

Possible stock footage

Possible image of Annie/Clarabel

The warning sign that says "DANGER: ENGINES MUST NOT PASS THIS BOARD"

Possible early model of The Fat Controller / Sir Topham Hat

Possible stock footage

Possible stock footage

Possible stock footage

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Concept art for the Knapford station sign ( credit to the Twitter user " @OldBonesJ " )

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Concept art for Knapford ( credit to the Twitter user " @OldBonesJ " )

Concept art for Knapford Station ( credit to the Twitter user " @OldBonesJ " )

Concept art for Knapford Gantry ( credit to the Twitter user " @OldBonesJ " )

Concept art for Lower Tidmouth ( credit to the Twitter user " @OldBonesJ " )

Concept art for a signal box ( credit to the Twitter user " @OldBonesJ " )

Story sketch ( credit to the Twitter user " @OldBonesJ " )

Story sketch (Note: Thomas has four coaches instead of two) ( credit to the Twitter user " @OldBonesJ " )

Lost Thomas the Tank Engine Pilots -LostMedia

Scribbles to Screen's video mentioning the "Down the Mine" pilot (5:41-9:00).