just done a overnighter 14-15.6.12 ad no problems at all, the buffets open 7am-7pm chippy shuts 10.30ish theres a panchos taco place sraight outside the station various burger pizza places weatherspoons 5 mins walk, anyway traffic wise not as busy as last yr gaps of up to 2hrs between movements seen 68 freight in exactly 26hrs, inc repeats 95% coal dbs heavyhaul gb any wagonbashers will fill their boots hope this helps

Just an update to that list:

DRS: 20s & 37s (occasionally), 66 (frequent)
EWS: 66s, 67s, 90s & 92s. (66 on 90% of EWS freight, remaining 10% shared with the rest)
Virgin: Voyagers & Pendolinos (extremely numerous)
Northern Rail: Pacers, Sprinters, Super Sprinters (numerous)
ScotRail: Super Sprinters.

Update on Albert & Co's info:

EWS & DRS - spot on.
FL: 86s and 90s on the liners with some 66s - enjoy the 86s while you can (probably only another couple of years left max)
Virgin: 57s on TBird & the logs

Here's what I've seen in Carlisle:

DRS: 20s, 33s & 37s.
EWS: 37s, 56s, 60s, 66s, 67s, 90s & 92s.
Virgin: Voyagers & Pendolinos
Northern Rail: Pacers, Sprinters, Super Sprinters
Arriva: Pacers & Super Sprinters.
ScotRail: Super Sprinters.

If you're lucky you'll see a railtour or a Serco Railtest 125.

There's a fair bit of goods that goes through, but it's mainly all passenger trains.

At Carlisle you get quite variety of freight but mainly 66's. Other loco's that pass Carlisle are 20/33/37/47/60/66/67/86/87/90/92 -not all the loco's are regular but I have seen them. You mainly get coal trains here but you get other freight such as freightliners (espeically) at night. For units you get 142/150/153/156/220/221/390

Carlisle is a splendid station full of history with a virtualy unaltered appearence. The station can feel cold and dead due to its size. Passenger trains are Virgin , North Western , Northern Spirit and Scotrail.
When freight is running it can get busy but the mainstay during the daytime is coal which varies from day to day in the amount running. DRS traffic also passes through along with Intermodel and steel traffic , then later the liners start and its busy right through the night.
The buffet closes at 8pm but theres a decent chippie accross the road and plenty of pubs nearby.
If going by car then use the car park in front of the station or the main station car park , dont use any of the city centre parks as vandalism is strife in the evening as I found out to my cost. The station is best approached from the M6 and then A6 into the city from the south.