[1] A project for a railway between Liverpool, Crosby and Southport was proposed in 1846, surveys were undertaken and parliamentary notices given.

[b][10][11] The initial southern terminus was at Waterloo, then a part of Lancashire, omnibuses operated by Mr Busby under contract, were used to complete the journey into Liverpool.

[c][12][15] The extension opened with only one intermediate station at Seaforth (later Seaforth & Litherland), but shortly after the line opened further stations were provided at Miller's Bridge, Bootle Village and Marsh Lane (later Marsh Lane & Strand Road then Bootle New Strand).

[act 2][20][21] The lease was renewed at least once before being re-negotiated in January 1854 which involved some of the locomotives being returned to the LC&SR with some remuneration to cover the depreciation.

[25] Two more locomotives were acquired in August 1848, they were outside cylinder 2-2-2s purchased for £1,500 each from the Norfolk Railway where they had been used by their contractor Samuel Peto.

[21] Engine number 3 was sold in January 1850 and was replaced by a 2-2-2 locomotive built by Forrester of Liverpool to a McConachie & Claude patent design.

This locomotive, named Firefly was taken into service just two days before the L&YR took the lease for the railway and therefore became responsible for the running of the line.

[21] In January 1854, the lease having been re-negotiated, the L&YR retained three of the LC&SR locomotives, Blundell, Formby and Firefly and returned the other four.

[29] There were numerous additions, alterations, renamings and closings of stations during the L&YR ownership years including: In 1902 the L&YR decided to electrify the line, a contract for the entire work, except the carriage bodies that were constructed in-house, was let to Dick, Kerr & Co. and work began in 1903.

[35] The electric trains introduced followed the American design pattern, they were open saloons with centre aisles, the first batch had clerestory roofs.

[33][34] In 1905 two additional motor coaches and twelve third-class trailers seating 80 were introduced and five-car trains became the rule.

[38] Electric trains became the norm on passenger services on the line but there were still steam locomotives to cater for the goods and coal traffic.

[39] One passenger service on the line did remain steam hauled, the through carriages for the daily Southport to London Euston which went via Bootle junction (between Bootle and Bank Hall) onto the L&NWR line and were attached to other trains at either Liverpool Lime Street or Edge Hill.

[45] The line was destined for closure under the 1963 Beeching plan but was reprieved by the Minister of Transport Ernest Marples and it survived.