Carstairs South Junction
Location type
JunctionNames and dates
Strawfrank Junction (1872-1972)Carstairs South Junction (1972-)
Station code: CAJ National Rail
Opened on the Caledonian Railway.
Description
This junction is where the West Coast Main Line from the south divides, the western line running to Glasgow Central (and the north) and eastern to Edinburgh Waverley. Carstairs station is just to the north on the Glasgow fork.
This location was known as Strawfrank Junction. It is the southern end of the 1872 curve from [[Dolphinton Junction]. A signal box opened with the junction, a tall box on the west side of the line just north of a road bridge. The box was built 3 storeys high to see over the bridge. This was a double track junction.
South of the bridge was a permanent way depot on the west side of the line (approached from the junction).
The box lasted until preparations for electrification of the West coast Main Line. It was replaced by a temporary panel box at Carstairs station.
The junction name was changed to Carstairs South Junction. The Edinburgh line's connection was turned into a single lead junction, the line doubling to the immediate north of the junction.
A loading bank remains from the long closed permanent way depot.
Tags
Junction
| Nearby stations Carstairs Carnwath Bankhead [Lanarkshire] Cleghorn Lanark Racecourse Newbigging [Lanarkshire] Thankerton Lanark Auchengray Sandilands [Lanarkshire] Symington [2nd] Symington [1st] Wilsontown Haywood Coulter | Carstairs East Junction Carstairs Shed Float Junction Float Viaduct Lampits Junction Carstairs Sand Pit Carstairs Mains Strawfrank Watertroughs Carstairs Sand Pit Signal Box Grange Siding Tourist/other Carstairs Hospital Carstairs No 1 Signal Box Montieth House Carstairs Castle Pettinain Signal Box |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
Chronology Dates
| / /1863 | Caledonian Railway Approval for the Strawfrank Junction to Dolphinton Junction curve. The curve is required as the Dolphinton Branch (Caledonian Railway) will sever the Lampits Junction to Float Junction curve allowing direct running to Edinburgh Princes Street from the south, rather than reversal at Carstairs. |
| 10/10/1872 | Caledonian Railway Strawfrank Junction to Dolphinton Junction curve opened. |
