Caption:
The trackwork here at the south end of Carstairs station
looks as if it is missing something somewhere, mainly because it used to be considerably more complicated. The accountants would probably tell you that it was previously over-ambitious and money needed to be saved, so here the layout is as lean as it can be whilst still fulfilling its basic purpose. That purpose is illustrated by a Brush Type 4 Class 47 in 1974, briefly running wrong line as it comes off the connection from Edinburgh at Strawfank Junction with a portion from the Scottish capital and now begins to position it to be added to the rear of an express on its way south from Glasgow. On the left are parked three Sulzer Type 2 Class 24s, the usual motive power for the express portions to/from Edinburgh. They are situated where Carstairs Motive Power Depot used to be. I had watched these manoeuvres before at this point ten years previously and a visit to the shed, at that time, revealed that, inside the building on the left, was no less than ER Pacific A2/3 60512 Steady Aim undergoing repair.