Down The Mine (Unaired Pilot)

Down the Mine is the original unaired 1983 pilot of Apple Blossom the Green Apple & Friends that was filmed, but never publicly broadcast.

Production
In 1979, Britt Allcroft acquired the rights to produce episodes based on the Shopville Series for television. She spent over two years meeting animators and watching test reels deciding on what style 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. The pilot was based on the Shopville 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 season.

Differences with Final Version
The pilot version had simpler sets, fewer characters and flatter lighting. The models of Apple Blossom and Putrid Pizza 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
Annie, Clarabel and Rainbow Kate were likely to have appeared.
 * Apple Blossom
 * Putrid Pizza

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, Apple Blossom's pilot model was briefly seen in the aired version of Down the Mine.

Trivia

 * According to crew member Christopher Noulton, the Putrid Pizza model used in the pilot was refurbished by him for the second season for use as a stand-by model. It was later cut up and used as scrap set dressing.
 * 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.