KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE

GB / US
2014
2hrs 09mins
Dir: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Colin Firth and Mark Strong

A spy organisation recruits a promising street kid into the agency’s training program, while a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius

This was the first installment in the Kingsman film series of comedy spy adventures, based on the 2012 comic book of the same name by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons. It has a scene whereby recruits are tied to a railway line as part of the initiation process to test their loyalty. This was filmed inside Sharpthorne Tunnel on the Bluebell Railway and by freeze framing the scene, we can see that the train was hauled by a Class 33/1 push-pull diesel.

This scene inside Sharpthorne Tunnel shows Taron Egerton tied to the track as Colin Firth looks down. The lighting on the walls has been added by the film crew. In providing depth, it makes the tunnel look much longer than it really is.
Michael Caine joins proceedings. Note the graffiti tag on the brickwork!
The train used in the scene was hauled by a Class 33/1 diesel, but its identity is not known. The twin headlights are another item that have been added for effect by the film crew but the two-piece miniature snow plough is very much an original item.
The Kingsman Revealed is a short ‘making of’ featurette, and it has a couple of brief shots of filming taking place inside the tunnel. One of these appears to show a drivers eye view of proceedings. Most interesting indeed!