Location notes
Float Viaduct is on the WCML a mile south of Carstairs, where the Edinburgh line branches off. This location has great panoramic views across to the railway line has it heads north on an embankment above the Clyde floodplain.
Railway type and traffic
The WCML here is busy with freight and passenger services:
Freight:
A wide mixture of services including Freightliner container flows to/from Coatbridge, engineering trains between Millerhill and Carlisle, DRS/Malcolm's trains from Coatbridge and Grangemouth to Daventry, DRS nuclear flask trains between Carlisle and Torness and Hunterston, DHL parcels vans between Walsall and Law Junction/Aberdeen/Inverness, MGRs and enterprise services. Locomotives seen here include 66s (DB Schenker, FLHH /5s and /6s and DRS), 67s, 92s, 90s, pairs of 86s, DRS 20s, 37s and 47s.
Passenger:
Virgin West Coast loco hauled and Pendolino services between Glasgow Central and London Euston
Virgin Cross Country Voyagers between Glasgow/Edinburgh/Dundee/Aberdeen and various locations in England.
Freight:
A wide mixture of services including Freightliner container flows to/from Coatbridge, engineering trains between Millerhill and Carlisle, DRS/Malcolm's trains from Coatbridge and Grangemouth to Daventry, DRS nuclear flask trains between Carlisle and Torness and Hunterston, DHL parcels vans between Walsall and Law Junction/Aberdeen/Inverness, MGRs and enterprise services. Locomotives seen here include 66s (DB Schenker, FLHH /5s and /6s and DRS), 67s, 92s, 90s, pairs of 86s, DRS 20s, 37s and 47s.
Passenger:
Virgin West Coast loco hauled and Pendolino services between Glasgow Central and London Euston
Virgin Cross Country Voyagers between Glasgow/Edinburgh/Dundee/Aberdeen and various locations in England.
Environment
This is a fairly exposed location. In winter it can be very cold, especially if there is much of a wind. In the summer it's much nicer.
Road directions
From the M74 - Junction 9:
Take the B7086 (Lanark) and continue along until Auchenheath. Then Join the A72 and travel in the Lanark direction until the junction with the A73 at Kirkfieldbank. Here follow the signs for Carlisle through to Lanark. In Lanark join the A70 and this will take you to Carstairs Village. In the village turn right down Carstairs Road, this will take you past Carstairs station. Continue down this road just over half a mile till you come to the church. Turn right at the church into Pettinain Road and continue straight along this road.
After another half mile you will cross the River Clyde, continue along and when you get to the top of the steep hill which is about another three quarters of a mile you will see a dirt track leading down to the line side and this track takes you right along to the bridge.
Float Viaduct, Carstairs map co-ordinates
Take the B7086 (Lanark) and continue along until Auchenheath. Then Join the A72 and travel in the Lanark direction until the junction with the A73 at Kirkfieldbank. Here follow the signs for Carlisle through to Lanark. In Lanark join the A70 and this will take you to Carstairs Village. In the village turn right down Carstairs Road, this will take you past Carstairs station. Continue down this road just over half a mile till you come to the church. Turn right at the church into Pettinain Road and continue straight along this road.
After another half mile you will cross the River Clyde, continue along and when you get to the top of the steep hill which is about another three quarters of a mile you will see a dirt track leading down to the line side and this track takes you right along to the bridge.
Float Viaduct, Carstairs map co-ordinates
Parking
You will need to leave your car at the top of the hill and climb over a gate to access the dirt track.
Public transport
The location is best reached via Carstairs which is difficult to get to by public transport, but it is possible. There is a limited train service from both Edinburgh and Glasgow by both ScotRail and Virgin XC.
Alternatively, it's possible to get the train to Lanark and then the bus to Carstairs
ScotRail train times for Lanark
Bus Timetable - William Stokes
Bus Timetable - Irvines
Travel Scotland Journey planner
Once at Carstairs then follow the road directions.
Alternatively, it's possible to get the train to Lanark and then the bus to Carstairs
ScotRail train times for Lanark
Bus Timetable - William Stokes
Bus Timetable - Irvines
Travel Scotland Journey planner
Once at Carstairs then follow the road directions.
Amenities
It's a field, the nearest public amenities are back in Carstairs.
Where on the map
Sun Compass
Open this Image in a new window and use as a sun compass with the links below.
Streetmap links
Float Viaduct, Carstairs general view map
Float Viaduct, Carstairs close up map
Multimap links
Float Viaduct, Carstairs on new multimap
Float Viaduct, Carstairs general view map
Float Viaduct, Carstairs close up map
Float Viaduct, Carstairs aerial view (where available)
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Float Viaduct, Carstairs
Some areas not available at all zoom levels,.
Helpful location information
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
There's not much shelter here, so when the sun is out, you need to keep it on your back. For southbound trains (and going away shots of northbound trains), the sun will be on your back from mid morning, for northbound trains you will need to wait until the sun swings round after lunch.
A long telephoto lens is highly recommended, as you can see the line for almost a mile to the north as it crosses the flood plain before reaching the viaduct. The viaduct it's self is reasonably picturesque although the sides obstruct the view a little.
As this spot is fairly remote, there is no traffic noise to interfere with taking videos.
One final point to note, there is OHLE, but it is reasonably spaced for taking photos between the masts. The line speed over the viaduct is 100mph, although services from the Edinburgh direction will still be accelerating up from 20mph at Carstairs South Junction.
If you do find this information useful then please feel free to mention how you 'found' the location on your website or magazine submission.
A long telephoto lens is highly recommended, as you can see the line for almost a mile to the north as it crosses the flood plain before reaching the viaduct. The viaduct it's self is reasonably picturesque although the sides obstruct the view a little.
As this spot is fairly remote, there is no traffic noise to interfere with taking videos.
One final point to note, there is OHLE, but it is reasonably spaced for taking photos between the masts. The line speed over the viaduct is 100mph, although services from the Edinburgh direction will still be accelerating up from 20mph at Carstairs South Junction.
If you do find this information useful then please feel free to mention how you 'found' the location on your website or magazine submission.
Offical Guidelines for Railway Enthusiasts
British Transport Police Guidelines for rail enthusiaist
Network Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
ATOC/National Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
If you see anything suspicious the British Transport Police can be contacted on their crime telephone number:
0800 405040
Help all us railway enthusiasts get a better name by helping the British Transport Police catch the cable thief's and vandals.
Network Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
ATOC/National Rail Guidelines for rail enthusiasts
If you see anything suspicious the British Transport Police can be contacted on their crime telephone number:
0800 405040
Help all us railway enthusiasts get a better name by helping the British Transport Police catch the cable thief's and vandals.
Links to photographs at this location
General views - All photographs © Ewan Tait unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Facing south
Fig 2- Facing north
Fig 3 - Facing north
Fig 4 - Facing north
Fig 5 - Facing north
Fig 6 - Facing north
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavor to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window.
Please enjoy this guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavor to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window.
Please enjoy this guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
