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Road directions
From Lanark: Take the A70 east towards Carstairs. You should pass over the Lanark branch about a mile before Ravenstruther. Just before crossing over the WCML, there is a gated entrance to a field on your right that looks out across towards Ravenstruther. You can then cross the field and up to the fence which gives a good view of any train coming out of the terminal.
Parking
You can park your car by the entrance to the field.
Amenities
The location is a field, the nearest amenities are in Carstairs.
For taking photos of trains in the terminal, anywhere along the fence line is good. When under the terminal they have their slow speed control active, so you can easily take a selection of photos as the train crawls along. When heading south, the train has to reverse out onto the Down line, and run wrong line towards Carstairs. This means that you can get some good close up shots of the loco as it reverses and then waits to depart south.
Passing trains can be photographed in either direction, depending on the time of day, although as the line is running south east - north west, you are usually ok from late morning until late afternoon. Between the line up to the loading terminal and the mainline, there is a slight hillock which lifts you above track level giving a good vantage for Glasgow bound trains. Between here and the A70 (facing towards Glasgow), the ground drops below track level providing an interesting perspective.
You will need to watch your timing when taking photos, as the line speed is over 80mph and there is OHLE to avoid. But it is fairly easy to get photos between the masts.
