Midgham - Least Used Station in Berkshire

It's time to go to another new 'Least Used' station! Note that the NEW figures for 2016-2017 are out, but Berkshire is still the same, it hasn't changed from the previous year, so starting at Reading on a cold and wet December day, I hopped on the train ...
The black and white WW2 video : • WW2 Training Film for ...
DIamond Geezer has also visited Midgham: diamondgeezer.blogspot.co.uk/...
Download station stats from the ORR website here: dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statist...

[@johnbarham7718]

I have lived within two miles of Midgham for 71 years. It used to have a goods yard, signal box which operated the crossing gates. The yard was to the North of the present car park. I have watched quite a few of your other videos. I like them.

[@funnygallie7863]

What?…

[@LouisOnAir]

If the apocalypse arrives, I'm choosing Dan to be in my group. He is prepared for any and everything!

[@HarryDoddema]

Well, the apocalypse has arrived and could definitely use Dan and his laminated fact sheets.

[@andrewrcmadwilkinson6999]

IT MAY SOON 😢

[@onlinespeedy8108]

You always know it’s a quaint station when it’s got grass on the platform instead of tarmac

[@TonyGirling]

When I commuted to London I used Midgham over my local station (Aldermaston) because... 1. Free car park, 2. Less likely to get car broken into and radio stolen, 3. Rowbarge quite handy on way home.

[@Hanzilla75]

Dan is a childhood friend and absolutely great company, the man needs to be in more of your videos. I am so happy I stumble over this video now :-) ...... and I just texted him to tell him I need a "Shelterette" T-shirt.

[@tidmouthmilk12]

the 'Least used station in..' shirt should have blank spaces where people can write in their locally appropriate station name and area with a marker.

[@Crowley2979]

Ah, that's my platform, and my line - I live a few stops out from Reading Thankfully they've got rid of most of the ghastly 165s now, and we are treated to the much nicer 387s.... Glad you spotted that the station is in Woolhampton !- I thought the Wolverhampton confusion was a myth, but I've heard it from so many people it must be true Great little pub called the Rowbarge just down the road

[@rjfaber1991]

Midgham - Least barked-at station in Barkshire.

[@LouisOnAir]

So All the Station Roads would take longer than All the Stations. There's a project for 2019.

[@AtlanteanAN69]

I'll second that :D

[@rachellewis7452]

What about the Station Streets too :)

[@KateJacksonLincoln]

I actually work right next to this station and can see it clearly from my office, and can confirm sod all people ever get on or off

[@GManPT]

I loved this video. I've traveled from Heathrow to Newbury and I obviously passed by Midgham. I felt special! :) Keep up the good work. Cheers from Portugal!

[@tobysummers471]

I’ve met the man who controls the level crossing at Midgham thatcham. And at Colthrop. Nice chap and he controls it from Colthrop crossing box I think. Delightful old signal box.

[@matthewburke5241]

Geoff, Midgham Station is not the only station on the line between Reading and Newbury to be numbered in this way, Thatcham and Newbury Racecourse are numbered in the same way. Up side = Platform 2 and Down side = Platform 1...

[@dionysusnu3881]

Racecourse is even worse. One mainline platform is 1, the other mainline platform is 2, and the loop line platform is 3. So platform 1 is the middle of the 3!

[@Robbins996]

Great video as always. I absolutely love this series!

[@HenrysAdventures]

Dan seems like a nice bloke, he looks like a vicar!

[@DanLoudShirts]

I ain't no saint! I also look considerably thinner these days! Follow me on Twitter @DanLoudShirts

[@markc8956]

Aahh Reading,Geoff - know it well,passed through it so much,got off usually at Earley (one stop down towards London Waterloo) when my cousins lived out there across from the University!

[@ballantynemoyes8019]

Yeah! My old home town has a station on Station Road. Cowdenbeath in Fife.

[@jamesdavison1786]

Conversely to the station being on station road, at swanwick it is on Duncan road, while Station road is about 100 metres away

[@teeny61]

Station Road in Worthing does not lead to the station either although in this case the original station was on station Road but moved to the west 150 years ago. Wonder when the Council will get round to moving the road name too !

[@kajakkille]

Dan is really amusing! Like to see more of him on the Jeff KZbin empire.

[@DanLoudShirts]

I'm amazed this comment wasn't from my mum.

[@stevies.1975]

I’m so glad you made a comment about the pronunciation of Midgham. It’s always been a beef of mine and I’ve written to GWR twice about it and nothing has been done. Not even a courteous reply. LoL!

[@DurhamGooner]

I've just realised the white mountain outline on the T shirt matches the terrain at Corrour. D'oh!!

[@DanLoudShirts]

Indeed, watch Geoff's "Choose Corrour" video if you haven't done already. It was my inspiration for the t-shirt!

[@gobears6487]

Favourite bit: "Come closer, it's just KZbin!" > self-zoom into camera... 😃👍

[@TheTransportHub17]

Cool video Geoff. It's that fine rain that soaks you through.

[@peteryoung1902]

Another great video and liked the idea of including the old black 'n' white war time footage.

[@peel_acres]

Thank you Dan for the great t-shirts. Especially the Pacer one. I'll be buying a Choose Corrour one imminently!

[@leomcgrath7924]

I watched that WWII video for my undergrad History thesis! Glad to see it's got some promotion, it's a wonderful cultural artifact

[@Leoleo-dz2xs]

Im really.not a train enthusiasts but im loving these videos

[@dansmith4601]

Leo leo Leo leo

[@andrewisaac7425]

The class 165 look like they are well maintained by FGW. I wish SE railway did the same for the class 465/466

[@cfcno1fan]

My brother and I were two of those 36,410 people! It rained when we were there as well...

[@mynamehappy]

YES!! THE VIDEO GOT A SHOUT OUT! I came here literally right after watching that film. My first thought when I saw the station was "Gotta see if Geoff has done Midgham"

[@paradonym]

Starbucks once asked me what to write on - said "albus percival wulfric brian dumbledore" - and he wrote it all - in the rush hour...

[@lauraireson6358]

DerParadonym That's awesome!

[@littlemissgiggles165]

I didn't know the station at Woolhampton was called Midgeham until this video, I have been through Woolhampton many times in the car and also a couple of times of the bus when going from Reading to Newbury (I live in Reading). Thanks for this video.

[@janepearson8710]

There used to be a proper shelter on the down platform. The bus stop shelterette must be fairly new.

[@Ihatebarrels1]

Im so happy you've done this one

[@davidlathrop9360]

That was fun! I'm always interested in the historical aspects.

[@mr22bishop]

There's a very nice pub just up the road from the station (The Rowbarge), with views of the canal and you can hear the trains still too...

[@daliverpoolfan69]

this was the thing that got me into geoff marshall this was the first least used station video i ever watched 6 years later and ageing like fine wine

[@enschedegabber87]

Geoff you got a new follower from holland here on youtube! great job! cheers

[@Northerner_Transport_Hub]

My OCD is going crazy. GWR powercars with FGW coaches, and FGW powercars with GWR coaches, DAMN ST PHILIPS MARSH HST DEPOT

[@tsangpogorge]

There doesn't appear to be a footbridge or subway connecting the two platforms, unusual for a station on such a busy line.

[@robnorth480]

As a former local, Midgham is the only station on the line between Reading and Bedwyn which I have never caught a train to or from.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Although not filmed that long ago this video is now history as the electrification which can be seen under construction in this video is now complete to Newbury. The HSTs no longer work though here and the Turbos no longer work the local services.

[@thatchamtmd5033]

While I was toiling away at a nearby school you where having fun at Migham

[@jackbaxter7232]

Ulverston station in Cumbria (you briefly stopped there in All The Stations) has another platforming scenario...2 platforms but they're named 1 and 3...theres a fair bit of history regarding the station too...would love to see you film Least Used in Cumbria and Lancashire!

[@GoldenLion2004]

Are you going to be re-doing any counties that have been updated with a new least-used station? British Steel Redcar is now the lowest North Yorkshire.

[@Rog5446]

The local man said that they were on the Reading downside platform, but they were on the up platform (Reading and Paddington) Thanks for explaining why it's called Midgham, when Midgham is over two miles away. Should have gone to the pub (The Rowbarge) instead of Reading as it's one of the best in Berkshire. (as MarkUKinsects and Ben Bishop has already mentioned)

[@drenahmeti22]

The line here is formally known as the Westbury Up and Down!

[@TonyGirling]

Agree - should have gone to Rowbarge. It's West Berks CAMRA pub of the year 2017. I was in there around the time of recording delivering the CAMRA branch magazine: Ullage.

[@PaulStradling]

Agreed! I spent far too much of my youth in the Angel pub in Woolhampton before following the landlord to the Rowbarge where he expanded it from the tiny 1 room pub it used to be to the huge place it is now. The landlord of the Rowbarge before him was retired actor Lawrence Naismith, who starred in the 'The Amazing Mr. Blunden' which scared the bejesus out of me and was one of the first films I ever saw in the cinema. Anyway, back to the station, it used to have an old wrought iron (?) sign saying something like "Douai School boys alight here" referring to the public school behind Woolhampton (long closed and now flats...) but I'm sure Midgham would NOT have been the least used station when the school was open. ex-Thatcham/Cold Ash/Midgham/Woolton Hill resident.

[@gh1851]

Must have missed you Geoff. Were you really at Reading? I heard the passenger numbers are up on last year. 17 million!

[@Mousy677]

my parents live in Newbury so when I go to visit them I get a train that passes through Midgham; I didn't realise how underutilised it is

[@thomascannaby6751]

I love how you can get a playful act of things and lots of facts

[@firstname1lastname127]

It would've be been nice to see the lock station on the Kennet river as well. It was sooooo close to the station, literally right behind the pub...

[@AGP335]

The first least used station I've been to before by chance! I drove past it to get to the nearby pub, the Rowbarge

[@ben.x]

Ahhh the iconic intro music.

[@SuPKrew]

ThisIsBait what is the song title BTW?

[@ben.x]

That^ @Daniel

[@Occulomency]

You made Have I Got News For You tonight. Congratulations!

[@stephenholt4670]

I've never seen a help point with a screen. Mind blown.

[@davidlockwood9192]

Not only did you not go to the local pub (Row-barge....very good in the summer) but you missed the Kennet and Avon Canal! Shocked.

[@DanLoudShirts]

To be fair, it was very cold and very wet. The pub wasn't open when we were there so we just got back on the train to Reading.

[@Drdee1]

I used to use that line to get to Vodafone's offices. High speed to Reading and then a slow one out to Newbury

[@Sim0nTrains]

This one really made me laugh, some of the stuff was really funny but a great video, this station is like Longport (Least Used Station in Staffordshire) with the times that it get an hourly service

[@mistaspliff]

I think this was the most interesting episode of Least Used Stations and Dan reminds me of Peter Griffin in The Family Guy :)

[@Leoleo-dz2xs]

Peter Keränen I was thinking the same You just want him to say something like peter

[@jamesdavison1786]

Tina Onions you seemed really fun in that!

[@jackcooper384]

At the time of filming for you it was raining at the time of watching for me it was snowing in Abingdon, Oxfordshire (10.12.17)

[@sammorton7521]

I live in Newbury and I used to get off at midgham for school everyday ahah

[@wibbol]

just looked and it still says 12 on the website... not surprised, still disappointed.

[@intercity4319]

Love it Geoff, can we have St Andrew's Road next?

[@katrinastringer7935]

Unsure why I'm watching this at 1am in the morning. Reading is my favourite station, my home town and the station has a great design

[@patricescattolin43]

So that 1 parking spot per 9 passengers. That's an interesting stats, as how it helps people use the service.

[@mungospencer4360]

This is one of my local stations, stopped there once on an HST

[@SGMiner21]

5:54 just watched the film for my uni course, reminded me to come back and watch this! haha

[@danielmarrs-gant9669]

Londons least used is Angel Road. Its under the north circular overpass next to the lee valley and is next to a retail park and industrial estate with an ikea.

[@northern-class_331]

Anybody coming back to binge the entire least used series or am I the only one?

[@GeraldineJayne]

Oh, you should do Plumpton station in Sussex. The train company had to pay for my taxi home for forgetting to stop there! Lol

[@ryancouchman-sawyer2355]

Question. Are least used stations using the new 2016-17 figures or the old figures? And if they're using the new figures, does that mean that previously visited stations that are no longer the least used in their counties will have to be visited?

[@thedenial6119]

Love this series

[@pintpullinggeek]

It must be cold at Midgham because I could have sworn I saw The Penguin.

[@noahlikestrains4472]

The Starbucks looks like a shop I'd make to fill space in minecraft

[@CP-ym9uc]

Yes!!!!!!! Finally Berkshire, the county I live in!

[@evancortez2]

I just noticed the guy in the GI training video is Burgess Meredith, a legendary actor here in America

[@Rog5446]

Burgess Meredith was the Penguin in the Batman TV series. I watched the information film and Bob Hope also makes an appearance.

[@DanLoudShirts]

And Rocky's trainer.

[@WolfGratz]

And George in Of Mice and Men. He also got an Oscar nomination for Day of the Locust.

[@Sapphire-dw7sd]

I’d love to go on one of your adventures!

[@MarcUK]

Missed a great opportunity to do part of the Trainspotting monologue on the t-shirt. "Choose Life. Choose Corrour". Corrour being the station they went to in the film. Or, "I hate being Scottish, so I choose Corrour" :D

[@MtbAddict109]

'Steamed Frapuccino for Mr. Midgham'

[@victoriajames586]

When I go to Starbucks I tell them I am Costa

[@richardchadwick4028]

Commuted there for 6 months ,fairly quiet station, apart from the level crossing...

[@scotty241991]

Is that the understation for the future electrification in the back at the yellow marked area and at 12:00? And some catenary poles in the background of some shots?

[@geofftech2]

very much yes, there was a whole bit i edited out (too long) talking about the electrification, which is is now only going as far as Newbury...

[@drenahmeti22]

Geoff Marshall Can we get that as a separate video?

[@austsb]

Can this Dan man be in all the vans... i mean least used videos from now on?

[@adammullarkey4996]

I'm surprised you didn't use the bit from that "How to Behave in Britain" video where he looks at the sign, then at the camera and asks, "Midgham?" And yes, I've watched the whole thing, because I'm that kind of person.

[@RobinPrice]

do you do suggestions? if so, come to weston milton if u like least used stations. i would come and meet you and show u around. it would be right up your street. good vids by the way, always look forward to watch them.

[@csmar7746]

Have you thought of going to Didcot Railway center to keep all the stations going? Its only 40 mins out of Paddington.

[@Jamie_kemp]

6:12 Kirenchester!

[@LadyJennivieve]

I noticed that the level crossing sirens stop once the gates are down. I presume that the sirens start again while the gates are being raised up? In Australia, the sirens sound the whole time the lights are flashing, because not all level crossings have boom gates.

[@steadyeddy69uk]

The level crossing at Midgham is a full barrier manually controlled level crossing by Closed Circuit Television. The audible warning only comes on during the lowering sequence only.

[@mazaradie1119]

I bought three t shirts the other week, I love them only counted 90$ USD

[@Possiblyqiqi]

6:08 I still laugh when I hear him say "Kyren-chester"... Long ago when Cirencester station was closed

[@kiranbahra]

Geoff should return now cause it's been electrified and currently due to the train shortages as the class 387s are replacing a few 80x which are still out of service the Newbury line is run with a C2C Electrostar.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

I did what I thought was the least used station in Tyne & Wear last Monday - Blaydon. I walked there from the Metrocentre!

[@am-vm8ew]

Nathan N Farnell Not Dunston anymore, it's Manors now.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

ManchesterSpotter I bet Chathill is the least used in Northumberland!

[@am-vm8ew]

Nathan N Farnell Belive it or not, chathill isn't the least used it's Acklington I believe

[@nigelkthomas9501]

ManchesterSpotter Did that one in July 2013. Walked there from Alnwick.

[@DubGathoni]

2:27, It is what we in the northwest US sometimes refer to as an angry mist.

[@pbsimons1]

For the first ever time, Geoff, I appear to have made an impulse purchase of that Corrour t-shirt. I'm a broke student, stop tempting me with nice things.

[@gobears6487]

DAN! DANNNN!!!! You broke my KZbin! As soon as you appeared and said hello it stopped and went black... what the HECK?! I always liked you too... 😉😉😉

[@gobears6487]

Hey! How'd this get 299 comments already?!?! Geeeeeeez. I only *just* got the video notification!

[@joeturner1597]

I used to leave people behind all the time at Midgham. They would be in the up side shelter, drunk or sheltering from the rain or whatever and I would pull in and stop at the mirror which is before the shelter. They would only notice I had arrived when the door warning sounded. Too late. I only ever rereleased the doors in an emergency or fault.

[@marc21091]

The film shows the brick shelter on the up platform and that it is windowless, so those sitting inside cannot the see the train approaching, and it appears to stop short of the shelter. Why not sound the horn? The conduct described is hardly customer care. That this was happening suggests that First Great Western did not care that a driver was leaving people behind. Poor management of FGW was however legendary for years.

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

Some people just like to be misserable and go out of their way to spread it as much as possible.

[@andyleggatt1846]

Thought Dan turned into Dave Gorman for a minute when he got on about Car Parking spaces...

[@MrBnsftrain]

3:50 I've seen GWR green class 43s with blue coaches before, but not blue class 43s with GWR green coaches!

[@ninjagoggles]

T-shirt idea: nat'l rail arrows w the slogan "Local Station"

[@michaelbruchas6663]

Burgess Meredith is in the film clip! The old trainer in the Rocky films....and many famous American films...

[@DanLoudShirts]

and The Penguin in the Batman TV series!

[@NewcastleFlyer]

Also Wendover was complimenting you in the comments of his ghost train video for HAI

[@NewcastleFlyer]

Geoff Marshall That’s what he deserves!

[@williamnayak3079]

Dunston Is Tyne And Wears Least Used Station....