Finstock - Least Used Station in Oxfordshire

On the Cotswold Line between Oxford and Worcester, lie three stations which only get one train a day. The least-used USED to be 'Combe' (when i started this series) but in the latest figures it changed to Finstock. So a decision had to be made ... Combe? or Finstock? Oh, and some nice chap call Ben who is a railway-loving-nerd, tagged along as well ...
HOMEWORK: Ben's shoes are 28cm long, and Vicki's are 25.5cm - How long is the platform in Vicki feet? Answers in the comment below please.
The Office of Rail and Road Station Usage figures are here: orr.gov.uk/statistics/publishe...

[@BassBusMusic]

Geoff, you have to do more with Dr. Ben. He's brilliant.

[@joelwebster8227]

THE BassBus My thoughts exactly.

[@simonwest9450]

I didn't realise that he's been on QI until I came across it.

[@joannegray5138]

Thought I recognised him from somewhere.

[@davidb3979]

12:00 the reason why the station is no where near the village of Finstock is very simple... they wanted the station next to the railway!

[@martinteller4063]

Big tick for Dr Ben. And good you have found Milton Jone's long lost brother!

[@jamesmccann531]

martin teller I thought he looked familiar.

[@damiensullivan440]

🤣🤣

[@gooseholla1]

It was his other grandfather...

[@LordFennel]

Nice detail with you reading Ben's book on the train at 1:09.

[@CalicoAidan]

"Ben looks a bit like Ben Goldacre, doesn't he?" *sees credits* "Ah."

[@mkey4711]

I never considered myself a person who could like a public transport trivia but here I am, wasting the night away, watching another video, fascinated by it. Damn you, Geoff. If you ever find yourself at Ilford station pop by to the blue coffee shop opposite of it. Barista there owes you a drink for that endless amount of entertainment! ;)

[@mjd_ai]

Damn I live quite near Ilford

[@swymaj02]

I'm probably the same with buses. Specialise in SE London since I live there.

[@RasseruS]

Geoff, normally keep the "Coffee Flask" for refills or/and well-made to keep for home/office use. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

[@anthonylloyd6094]

I saw that and had to re-run that portion of the video...

[@rodneymarshall3688]

Ben is absolutely right - rail snaking away from the middle of nowhere into the teeming metropolis...amazing!

[@anthonydefreitas6006]

If you look on Google maps street view you can still see the apple core in the bin bag

[@josephhouk6703]

Wait - you threw out a reusable travel coffee mug??? For shame.

[@ellisbutler7956]

It's a South Western Railway one so it's fine

[@ftminton3256]

Ha ha

[@dr18037]

Wow

[@PeterTrainIntu]

@@dr18037 arsenal are rubbish watford are better

[@dr18037]

@@PeterTrainIntu ahhhhh. only a desperate football fan would ressort to this. A video completely irrelevant to football. Wow shame on you. Merry christmas

[@evancortez2]

I noticed some CCTV cameras there, I'm imagining some guy at the GWR control center going, "yeah zoom in...who the hell are those two dudes?"

[@mrbojangles8133]

actual people.. there.. well I never

[@mikewolf5367]

lol that lady at 4:35 peeking around the seat. 🤣

[@lawrenceheath1993]

At the end of each year it should be put to vote for “favourite companion” I feel Dr Ben would be the run away winner.

[@davidlathrop9360]

That was one of the best least-used stations I've seen yet. Ben is... really quite amazing, and he really needs to pop up more, if not have his own channel! The insight into how the thin thread of rails connects it all together made me think.

[@154hopperavenue6]

I'd seen Geoff's attempts at the Tube records years ago but found this channel in lockdown. I'm not a railway enthusiast but think these videos are brilliant. There's something wonderfully eccentric about them that's quintessentially British. I think I found them comforting. Cheers.

[@OlanKenny]

Dr Ben is great! Can we have him again?

[@srhvideo]

It's a shame that no longer are Combe and Coombe the least used stations in their respective counties. There can't be many least used stations served by full spec express trains.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Brilliant video! I remember the swing bridge at Oxford when I was a child, you could turn the handle but it was of course disconnected and the bridge didn't swing! Looks like when the like was singled at Finstock the slewed the track into the middle and widened the platform as the platform looks a bit odd against the road bridge.

[@puddycat2325]

I remember watching this years ago, now I commute into Oxford daily from Bicester and because of this video I look out every day at the swing bridge. It has an odd connection for me, as I live (and volunteer!) where the station building that bridge used to provide access to has now been moved.

[@Fatboythin]

Would love to do a journey with you Geoff When I was 8, my dad knew the station manager at Folkestone Harbour Station and I was allowed to drive the 73 class loco that pulled the Orient Express from Folkestone Harbour, into the Folkestone East Sidings then walk to the other end and drive the class 47 loco from folkestone east to Folkestone a central. A total of a few miles, but for me it was every Christmas at once.

[@williamg209two]

what is your flask budget? a Thousand Pounds?. Bens a good companion to do videos withm you should do more

[@eric144144]

It's Ben Goldacre from the days when The Guardian was sane. Great video ! I knew I recognised him but had to look in the comments for the answer.

[@171trains]

That last line from Ben was brilliant-just like something I would of said along with many others😂You really need to do more with Ben!

[@LostsTVandRadio]

Ah ... the agony of using the Cotswold line after BR singled much of it in the early 70s! Then to make things worse they reconfigured the tracks at Worcester Foregate Street around 1973. For nearly 40 years there were six separate single line sections from Hereford to Oxford and, unsurprisingly, this regularly resulted in horribly compounded delays by the afternoons. The redoubling of several miles of the line ten years ago has improved things substantially, as has the introduction of the Class 800s which can accelerate fast enough to make up for some lost time. It's high time though that the whole Worcester to Oxford section was doubled and that the configuration of the lines in Worcester itself was improved.

[@maelysmay1406]

You and Ben make a great presenting team! :)

[@mattsnyder4754]

Ben might be the best guest host this series has seen

[@billyork6017]

My favourite KZbin and my favourite science author in the same video. You guys are the best!

[@betamax80]

I like what your friend said about how the rails go towards a big city. I feel the same way about motorways when looking down at it from a rural overbridge.

[@ThomasVanderWal]

betamax80 I have had that thought about airplanes quite often. People suspended in the air flying over empty land and water in a metal tube. They are removed from one center of hustle and bustle transported across quiet and empty and dropped in a new center of hustle and bustle. The railways roughly seem to work like conjoined human circulatory systems from a central point of activity or to the capillaries of calm and quiet, but then also connect to other networks that can take one back into a diff et center of activity.

[@tylerbaker7761]

betamax80 all motorways except for the m25

[@marc-anthonyross4331]

And in 2023 still watching and re watching all the least used stations thank you geoff for these videos keeps my low moods away hopefully new least used this year 😀

[@niemand3637]

This person is great

[@antifugazi]

Pretty vague statement

[@samuelsenior3725]

There needs to be as much Ben as possible on this channel, he's great on camera and got a properly enthusiastic personality that compliments you nicely.

[@DanLoudShirts]

Another great video! I like Ben. He kind of reminds me of the bloke off Magpie!

[@guzzi1948]

so glad you got the turntable, swing bridge thing right, as a lad I rode over that swing bridge in an ex GWR Pannier Tank driven by a Mr Tolley - a family friend who was shunting wagons in the old LMS Yard

[@RJSRdg]

For some years the 'Monster Race' mud run took place on an estate close to Finstock station. I signed up for it a few years ago, as, being close to a station, it should have been easy for me to get to by public transport - it was only after I'd paid my entry fee I realised there are no trains to Finstock on a Saturday! Can't help thinking GWR missed a trick with that one....

[@orangeedo]

It's like you've known each other for years ✌

[@isaacmarikko]

Thank you Geoff for the lovely videos of the new class 800 trains.

[@dennisinbkny]

One of the most charmingly entertaining videos you have produced to date.

[@TheTransportHub17]

Great video Geoff, I love these least used station videos I was in Oxford last weekend and Marylebone is one of my favourite terminating stations as they have the NSE colours. I always laugh when you look bored and drink tea or coffee and for the first time reading a book.

[@AnimeManiac1987]

This line has so many memories for me as I have spent my entire childhood on this line. Milton-under-wichwood Ascott-under-wichwood and Charlbury. I even had my work experience at Thames Trains on this line. After I finished school me and my family moved onto the main line to Banbury and have been there ever since

[@letsgamingyt1]

Like what on earth? I refresh my youtube main page and there always pops up a ’least used station’ video at the first. I suppose that’s good?

[@rich83uk]

Hi Geoff, great video of a very lovely station. I visited Finstock station today. It does look like they've cut back a lot of the tress and hedges from along the line since you did your video. Also the shelter has been taken away and long with the bin, maybe the staff got fed up with having to empty it. Also the station help point doesn't work!

[@andrewholloway231]

Superb video, enjoyed the bit about the old railway swing bridge over the Sheepwash channel. And, yep, there is clearance for a narrowboat to get under.

[@jimthorne304]

This now closed station is on this line... "Yes. I remember Adlestrop The name, because one afternoon Of heat, the express-train drew up there Unwontedly. It was late June. The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat. No one left and no one came On the bare platform. What I saw Was Adlestrop-only the name And willows, willow-herb, and grass, And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry, No whit less still and lonely fair Than the high cloudlets in the sky. And for that minute a blackbird sang Close by, and round him, mistier, Farther and farther, all the birds Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire."

[@djlewis5149]

Cheers Jim. Huge fan of Edward Thomas. If you visit check the bus shelter

[@krzysztofdowczynski7459]

Thanks, for finally visiting Oxofrdshire!

[@mechanicadam2011]

Have you been reading my mind? I live in atherstone.. near your polesworth video. And 4 years ago I used to live in Oxfordshire. Witney! Keep up the good work

[@rachelquarrell71]

Why did you throw out a re-usable coffee mug?

[@APOTwixx]

This has been one of my favorite least used station episodes!

[@paultidd9332]

Brilliant, what a duo - more please...

[@alexdvoi325]

Hi! Love your vids, please do one on Drayton Green station! The train used to run every half hour to Paddington, very convenient. ... now they stopped it and it only runs to West Ealing which is rubbish as I used to take it all the time! Thanks!!!!! Alex

[@TheLandOfJonny]

It’s the line I always use to get to my parents. Pershore is also a large way out of the the town centre. It’s like because supposedly the townsfolk didn’t want the noise and smoke from the trains so close by. They did redouble a lot of the line in recent years but left two sections of single track - it still causes lots of delays while waiting for a late train from one direction to come through.

[@edgeleydan01]

Finstock and Combe villages are both on the tops of hills. The stations are down in the valley, next to the River Evenlode. They are both in prime commuting into Oxford territory, but as there is only one train in each direction, people drive or cycle to Charlbury or Hanborough instead. As it was the middle of summer, they could have had a lovely 40 minute walk into Charlbury, through the grounds of Cornbury House.

[@ThomasVanderWal]

This was a real gem. Now tracking down Ben Goldacre and his works. It would be great to have more Benin the future. My first trip to the Oxford station was 1987 and I don’t think I remember tracks out front in the car park area. I do know in 1988 it had changed a bit, then drastically changed but 2005 when I was back again.

[@swanningabout]

Thomas Vander Wal Benin? The African country?

[@jf840fourtheloveoftransport]

one interesting thing about Finstock the platform is the former track bed towards charlbury

[@matthewalbery8827]

jf 840 four the love of trains that's the problem with re-dualing it!

[@HenrysAdventures]

The swing bridge used to take the London & North Western Railway's Oxford line into Rewley Road Station which is now preserved at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre!

[@doublestufpenguin]

Ben was a delight! You should have him on more. And I'll check out his book and TED talk.

[@bimmingham]

Nice video Geoff, I love the least used stations series!

[@bellyruffian]

That is the best Least used Station yet, Ben is a must. I remember Oxfird Station like Ben does too. Tip Top Work young man/men

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

Ben is a charming character, I enjoy the conversations between he and you.

[@azog23]

Isn't that Ben Goldacre? Author of Bad Science?

[@cycklist]

The very book Geoff was reading on the train...

[@MaxBarnish]

yes it is

[@davidcollins9512]

Now had it been Geoff's birthday wouldn't that have been a good birthday present !

[@southwest455]

Ben seems like a nice fellow, This has to be one of my favourite Least Used Station videos I've seen :)

[@LeafyGooner]

More Ben in future videos please. Great video!

[@davebarber206]

Why did you throw away a reusable cup

[@glynwelshkarelian3489]

I've had an utterly splendid Goof Friday made more so by this video. Thank you. For further info: walked Travellers Rest Hipperholme to Market Tavern Brighouse, via Red Rooster. Crossed the live railway to Halifax, and passed under the route of the (no photograph or written record) cable/rope freight cable car system that hauled rocks from the quarry over Sutcliffe Wood Lane.

[@DanTheCaptain]

I'm kind of in the middle when it comes to trains and railwys. I like both. Also can I say I love the GWR livery. It think it is one of the best in the UK imo.

[@ethodda]

Daniel K Scottrail is nice too

[@DanTheCaptain]

Minecraft nerd Yeah Scottrail and GWR are the best

[@SimsAndStuff]

What an awesome guy Ben is. He needs to come back! Oh and great video

[@cricketwes]

I've driven past this station several times as it's the one of closest to where I live along with Combe and Hanborough stations. Coming from Witney and Hailey towards Charlbury that left-hand bend is blind and slightly narrow so you have to hope that there isn't a car coming the other way at the same time!

[@Sarge084]

Interesting line that, it passes through countryside with WWII military connections, military depots at Long Lartin and Long Marsden, airfields at Honeybourne and Moreton in Marsh, and a place that was in the news recently with its Polish military connections.

[@SteveBuchananArt]

More videos with Ben please - he is a legend.

[@theladbrown9117]

WHAT a brilliant job or hobby you have, riding on trains all the time, doing videos on the underground as well, I would love to do that, Train mad, Could please have a like, cheers

[@veganmonter]

My thought process watching the video: 1:10 - Oh hey, Bad Science, I like that book. 2:21 - Oh man, I know that guy from somewhere... QI Maybe? 2:22 - Oh! That's Ben Goldacre!

[@jezm1703]

Just watched this and Mr. Ben is brilliant.

[@baconrasher6650]

Ben is awesome! Need him in more videos! He reminds me of Milton Jones!

[@jackloweth7992]

4:38, came as a shock to me as that lady there is my neighbour Anne. It provided a good laugh when I jokingly told her that she was a neighbourhood celebrity because of this 😂

[@sebastianbaynes9452]

6:18 nice of Ben to channel his inner Brian Cox there

[@TheEulerID]

The mystery guest is Ben Goldacre. I live the next station down from that one in Finstock, namely Charlbury. Getting a taxi is lazy. There's a very nice little walk skirting the edge of the grounds of Cornbury House to Charlbury station which would take perhaps 45-50 minutes and is only 2.5 miles station-to-station. There's then a roughly hourly service back to Oxford.

[@mata5724]

just add a short comic relief and we'll have train top gear

[@tvlicensingblog]

Ben Goldacre... the book you were reading in the vestibule was a handy clue. He's aged a lot in the last few years!

[@Rog5446]

A GWR man rides on the trains and gets off at every unmanned station and collects the bins. After he has had a clean up and replaced the bins with new bags, he gets on the next available train to the next station. I was at Midgham (Berkshire's least used station) yesterday 29th March and a GWR man was waiting in the shelter with a pile of rubbish bags, but he did not get off until Newbury. (probably had enough bags to carry that prevented him from getting off at Thatcham)

[@gemmapenny]

Great that you got Milton Jones to help you out!

[@robk23oxf]

Some of those bus guides at stations on this line are out of date, I think it was Shipton (or Ascott-under-Wychwood, did both in one day so I can't be sure) which advertised routes which finished nearly 4 years ago.

[@xXPyrophorusXx]

Ben is awesome! Encore please!

[@volvo2nd88]

#AllTheToilets

[@irenec4876]

VolvoTrident All of then

[@charliepearce6]

i love how Finstock is 10 minutes walking distance from my house. i go past that train station everyday aha

[@AaronOxfordExmouth1989]

One of your best least used stations ever. Just amazing.

[@jfreelan1964]

Nicely done.

[@hjptrains940]

This, along side with Kings Sutton is my local least used station. Keep up the great work Geoff. Looking forward to the Kings Sutton video!!!

[@hirocb2825]

I live in Hanborough which is less than a mile from Combe station and I can tell you that the platform is tiny but it is great for spotting trains at speed because like Geoff said there is only TWO trains a day.

[@trainmaniacstudios8216]

Ben Goldacre? Wooaaahhh Geoff, you just stepped up your game! :D

[@ramblingman66]

I've watched many of your videos over the last 3 years, this one was a nicely paced and length one 😎, when I stumbled across Geoff and his channel I had no interest in trains and stations, yet I'm now fascinated and especially loved the London Underground ones. Great stuff 👏👏👏

[@MerlinNL21]

This was so nice !!!

[@darkshines800]

More Ben please. Always more Ben!

[@coconinoco]

Don’t put your apple core in the bin! Chuck it in the bushes where some wildlife can chomp on it!

[@georginacox3909]

Yes, just what I said before I read yours.

[@georginacox3909]

Yes. I have apples to go out for tbem

[@beeble2003]

That wasn't an apple core: it was about three-quarters of an apple!

[@hunty1970]

That’s still littering.

[@shaunwest3612]

Nice video Geoff ☺

[@TheSmokie55]

Geoff, you have to have Ben do more adventures with you. He is so interesting. You guys make a good pair up for videos. Please invite him to more trips.

[@ligasinica6109]

Interesting fact Bedford Bletchley are what's left from Varsity line (or the Oxford to Cambridge railway line). A lot of people in and around Bedford would like to have it back but unfortunately it's impossible as a lot of houses been built where railway use to be

[@garywoolton1875]

Everything from Corbyn impression to dramatic music, to a new emerging star in Ben.

[@DerekHartley]

Gary Woolton 'emerging star' - that's a joke, right?

[@swanningabout]

Gary Woolton he's only sold half a million books...

[@garywoolton1875]

Yeah but I had not of him till now, and loved him.

[@davidbisping5000]

Dr. BEN IS a real delight, def got to have him back..

[@mrtulala1]

Ben Goldacre!

[@enisylo]

mrtulala1 as soon as he spoke I said to myself: "I know that voice..." haha

[@johnmccnj]

I have never heard of him in my life, but my very first impression was "Woah! Awesome Mad Scientist hair!"

[@mistakay9019]

THE PENNY DROPS!!!! I thought I recognised him! thank you!

[@TheDrugOfTheNation]

03:22 that's my walk to work! I thought it waa a turntable but could never work out where the other tracks could be for that to be true.