This is an island platform station on the western junction of the triangular junction at Carstairs. There is a modern station building on the platform which is approached by a footbridge over the Glasgow bound lines.
On opening, the station was briefly known as 'Float'.
The station has been rebuilt a number of times, notably a replacement of the trainshed with canopies around 1913, a track reorganisation in 1972/3, and replacement of the building in 2000. A further re-organisation of the junction took place in 2023.
During the 1913/14 reconstruction the large trainshed which covered the platform was removed. This had brick sidewalls and a large timber roof over the station buildings. The station buildings below the roof were not removed but given a new roof and platform canopies. The two storey part of this building had stood outside the trainshed at the west end of the station, towered over by the large trainshed. The trainshed's roof was partly glazed - with two long sections above each platform.
The original building was described in the Ordnance Survey Name Book thus
This is one of the most important railway stations in the Country as through it daily pass not only the traffic between Edinburgh & Glasgow but the greater part of the traffic between the manufacturing districts of Scotland and England, it contains extensive accommodation for the workmen employed, machinery for the repair of steam engines, also extensive refreshment rooms and all the usual adjuncts of a first class station. The station and surrounding houses are well lit with gas, the main building consists of brick walls and a glass roof which when illuminated at night has a brilliant effect.
Nearby stations Carnwath Bankhead [Lanarkshire] Cleghorn Lanark Racecourse Lanark Newbigging [Lanarkshire] Thankerton Auchengray Sandilands [Lanarkshire] Wilsontown Haywood Symington [2nd] Symington [1st] Braidwood Coulter | Carstairs Shed Carstairs East Junction Carstairs South Junction Carstairs Sand Pit Carstairs Mains Lampits Junction Float Junction Float Viaduct Carstairs Sand Pit Signal Box Strawfrank Watertroughs Sand Pit Tourist/other Carstairs No 1 Signal Box Carstairs Hospital Montieth House Carstairs Castle |
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. |