Midgham railway station

Midgham railway station, formerly known as Woolhampton railway station, is a railway station in the English county of Berkshire. It is located in the village of Woolhampton, but takes its current name from the village of Midgham that lies some 2 miles (3.2 km) away.

Midgham
National Rail
Midgham Station, looking east
General information
LocationWoolhampton; Midgham, West Berkshire
England
Coordinates51.3961°N 1.1783°W / 51.3961; -1.1783
Grid referenceSU572666
Managed byGreat Western Railway
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeMDG
ClassificationDfT category F2
History
Original companyBerks and Hants Railway
Pre-groupingGreat Western Railway
Post-groupingGWR
Key dates
21 December 1847Opened as "Woolhampton"
1 March 1873Renamed "Midgham"
2 November 1964Renamed "Midgham Halt"
5 May 1969Renamed "Midgham"
Passengers
2017/18Decrease 34,310
2018/19Decrease 30,556
2019/20Increase 36,770
2020/21Decrease 8,826
2021/22Increase 24,158
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road
The station looking to the west from the level crossing

The station is on the Reading to Taunton railway line and is 46 miles 59 chains (46.74 miles, 75.22 km) from London Paddington.

History

The line from Reading to Hungerford was planned by the Berks and Hants Railway, and before it was opened, it was absorbed by the Great Western Railway (GWR).[1] The station at Woolhampton was opened with the line on 21 December 1847;[2] it was originally named "Woolhampton" but on 1 March 1873 was renamed "Midgham".[3][4][5] The station appeared in a 1943 World War 2 information film for US service personnel titled A Welcome to Britain.[6]

The station was subsequently renamed twice by British Rail: on 2 November 1964 it became "Midgham Halt" but on 5 May 1969 it reverted to "Midgham".[7]

Description

Midgham station is near the centre of Woolhampton village, on an unclassified road just south of its junction with the A4 road. There are two flanking platforms on each side of the double track line. The Reading bound platform has a small shelter and a small car park. The unclassified road crosses the railway line at the eastern end of the station by means of a level crossing, and this crossing also provides the only access between the platforms.

Services

The station is served by local services operated by Great Western Railway from Reading to Newbury. Trains run hourly in both directions on Mondays to Saturdays, and every other hour on a Sunday. Typical journey times are about 12 minutes to Newbury and 20 minutes to Reading. Passengers for London Paddington must normally change trains at Reading (except on Sundays, when services run to & from the capital).[8]

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Aldermaston   Great Western Railway
Reading to Newbury
Local Services
Reading to Taunton line		   Thatcham

Incidents

On 10 August 1927, the leading bogie of the then new King class locomotive, 6003 King George IV, became derailed at speed approaching Midgham. This led to the suspension arrangement of the unusual bogie being improved.[9]

References
  1. MacDermot, E.T. (1927). History of the Great Western Railway, vol. I: 1833-1863. Paddington: Great Western Railway. pp. 192–3, 294–5.
  2. Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 255. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
  3. Butt 1995, pp. 159, 255
  4. "Basingstoke Railway History in Maps". Christopher Tolley. 2001. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  5. MacDermot 1927, p. 336
  6. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: WW2 Training Film for US Soldiers | How to Behave in Britain | 1943 – via YouTube.
  7. Butt 1995, p. 159
  8. Table 116 National Rail timetable, May 2016
  9. Nock, O S (1967). The GWR Stars, Castles and Kings, Vol 1. Newton Abbott: David and Charles. pp. 131–132.
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