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

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[[File:DownTheMinePilot1.png|thumb|300px|The only aired shot from the pilot episode]]
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[[File:DownTheMinePilot1.png|thumb|300px|One of the aired shots from the unaired pilot episode.]]
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In the late 1970's before the Railway Series books of Thomas & Friends were receiving the green light to be adapted into a televised form, a low-budget '''pilot episode''' was made and was pitched to several networks In April 3, 1982, the pilot was based of the story called Down The Mine from the eighth book from the Railway Series, Gordon the Blue Engine. The pilot was made by using fewer characters, fewer rolling stock, fewer sets and flatter lighting, which was very different to the aired episodes of Thomas & Friends.
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In the early 1980's before ''The Railway Series'' books of ''Thomas & Friends'' were receiving the green light to be adapted into a televised form, 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 Blue Engine''. Visually the pilot is largely consistent with the final series, using similar camera angles and featuring the same locations as the final episode.
   
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The pilot was never really seen, no clips or screenshots of it are visible either, however, a shot from the twenty-fifth episode of the first season, Down The Mine, seems to be have been re-used from the pilot episode. When Thomas passes Knapford, his model appears to be much more simplistic than the one used in the series, the main differences being the paint on his front splasher appears to be missing the red lining, his side rods seem more toy-like in appearance and his face is different compared to the one used in the series. It is presumed that the photo of Thomas which was seen on a 1983 Hornby set was the original pilot model, an illustration from the Railway Series book, Branch Line Engines, was where Thomas' pilot model was based on.
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The pilot was used strictly for screening purposes, however, a shot from the twenty-fifth episode of the first season, Down The Mine, 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. Both Thomas and Gordon were modified to accommodate their Marklin chassis later on. The pilot models are the Series 1< models.
   
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Photos of Gordon's pilot model, by the model maker Christopher Noulton can be found in an interview by Sodor Island Fansite.<ref>[http://www.sodor-island.net/episodeguide/chrisnoulton.html Crewmember Spotlight on: Christopher Noulton.] Retrieved 29 Dec '13.</ref> The pilot model of Gordon was apparently revamped for use as a stand-by model in the second season of Thomas & Friends. Eventually, it was dismantled and used as scrap set dressing for episodes such as "Toad Stands By", and "Thomas, Percy, And Old Slow Coach".
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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.<ref>[http://www.sodor-island.net/episodeguide/chrisnoulton.html Crewmember Spotlight on: Christopher Noulton.] Retrieved 29 Dec '13.</ref>
   
 
==Gallery==
  
==Gallery==
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<gallery orientation="none" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="medium" captionalign="center" spacing="small">
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<gallery orientation="none" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="medium" captionalign="center" spacing="small" widths="185">
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Hornby thomas set 1984.jpg|Presumed pilot model of Thomas pictured on a Hornby box
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File:DownTheMinePilot6.png|Thomas' original pilot model seen as a small clip in the aired episode
  
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File:DownTheMinePilot2.png|Gordon's original pilot model
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DownTheMinePilot2.png|Gordon's original pilot model
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File:DownTheMinePilot3.jpg|closeup of Gordon's original pilot model
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DownTheMinePilot3.jpg|closeup of Gordon's original pilot model
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File:DownTheMinePilot4.jpg|gordon's original pilot model cab closeup with driver/fireman
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DownTheMinePilot4.jpg|gordon's original pilot model cab closeup
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DowntheMine13.png|Possible stock footage
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File:Hornby_thomas_set_1984.jpg|Thomas' presumed pilot model as seen on the 1985 Hornby set
  
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DowntheMine19.webp|Possible stock footage
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File:DownTheMinePilot5.png|The illustration where Thomas' pilot model was based on
  
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DowntheMine33.png|Possible stock footage
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File:DownTheMinePilot7.png|Gordon's pilot model in Thomas and the Magic Railroad
  
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DowntheMine39.png|Possible stock footage
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File:DownTheMinePilot8.png|Possible remains of Thomas' pilot model as seen in Off the Rails
  
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DowntheMine40.png|Possible stock footage
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</gallery>
  
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DowntheMine41.png|Possible stock footage
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EeWulgzWsAMKaY5.jpeg|Concept art for the Knapford station sign ( credit to the Twitter user " @OldBonesJ " )
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==Videos==
  
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20200802 212940.jpg|Concept art for Knapford ( credit to the Twitter user " @OldBonesJ " )
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<gallery orientation="none" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="medium" captionalign="center" spacing="small">
  
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ErAAzNiXYAAzB0I.jpg|Possible Footage From The Pilot
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File:The aired version of the episode
  
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
   
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[[Category:Lost Live Action]]
  
[[Category:Lost Live Action]]
 
[[Category:Lost Episodes]]
  
[[Category:Lost Episodes]]
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[[Category:Lost UK]]
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[[Category:Lost Thomas the Tank Engine]]
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[[Category:Lost ITV]]

Revision as of 02:57, 8 January 2021

DownTheMinePilot1

One of the aired shots from the unaired pilot episode.

In the early 1980's before The Railway Series books of Thomas & Friends were receiving the green light to be adapted into a televised form, 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 Blue 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, 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. Both Thomas and Gordon were modified to accommodate their Marklin chassis later on. The pilot models are the Series 1< models.

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.[1]

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Crewmember Spotlight on: Christopher Noulton. Retrieved 29 Dec '13.
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