Carstairs Junction Station

NS94NE 54 95208 45441

See also NS94NE 55.

NMRS REFERENCE

Station opened 15/2/1848: roof removed 26/4/1913.

(Undated) information in NMRS.

This station and its track layout were extensively rebuilt and rearranged during the electrification of the early 1970's, probably becoming that most radically altered on the West Coast Main line to the North of Weaver Junction (Cheshire), even including Carnforth (Lancs). It was necessary to reconcile the demands of 90mph through running, access to a station set inconveniently on a curve, and the turnout to the Edinburgh line (at Strawfrank and Dolphinton Junctions) across the superelevated curve. The need to raise the platform edges while retaining the original station buildings necessistated the unusual provisioned of railed steps down into the latter.

O S Nock 1974.

(Location cited as NS 953 454). Carstairs Station: rebuilt 1913-14 by the Caledonian Rly. An island-platform through station, with single-storey offices with round-headed openings, and extensive steel-framed glazed awnings supported on cast-iron columns.

J R Hume 1976.

Carstairs Station: this station is situated at a major junction (NS94NE 55) on the Glasgow-Carlisle portion of the Glasgow-London (Euston) 'West Coast Main Line'. The Caledonian Rly's secondary route to Edinburgh and branch line to Dolphinton diverge to the NE and E respectively.

The station was opened (by the Caledonian Rly) on 15 February 1848, and remains in regular use by passenger traffic.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 23 January 2006.

R V J Butt 1995.

The station remains open to passengers. However, all platform buildings have now been removed and replaced with a 'bus shelter' and lighting is provided by modern metal standards and fluorescent type illumination. A new concrete footbridge has been built to connect the platform to Station Road.

The girder road overbridge survives.

The Object Name Book of the Ordnance Survey (ONB) describes the railway junction station as 'This is one of the most important Ralway Stations in the County as through it daily pass not only the traffic between Edinburgh and Glasgow but the greater part of the traffic between the manufacturing districts of Scotland and England. At Carstairs extensive accommodation for the workmen employed for the repair of steam engines- also extensibe Refreshment Rooms and all the usual adjuncts of a first class station and surrounding houses are weel lit with gas - the main building consists of brick walls and a glass roof which when illuminated at night has a brilliant effect. It is the property of the Caledonian Railway Co'. (Name Book 1883).

The railway through Carstairs parish is also described in the Object Name Book (ONB) as ' A line of Ralway which passing across the South portion of the parish forms a junction with a line leaving the same name and belonging to the same Company which enters the Ph (sic) at its NE (sic) corner it then leaves the Parish at its SE corner and proceeds in a Southerly direction to Carluke - it is the property of the Caledonian Rly Co'. (Name Book 1883).

Visited by RCAHMS (DE), 1 September 2006