In the early 1900s the railway was bankrupt as it used steam locomotives that left a dirty atmosphere in the tunnel and passengers preferred the ferries.

The steam locomotives then used left a dirty atmosphere in the tunnel that mechanical ventilation was unable to remove.

Westinghouse considered the railway would be profitable with electric traction and undertook to fund electrification, promising to complete in eighteen months.

Unheated accommodation was in saloons and the wooden bodies were British built, the bogies had been made by Baldwin Locomotive Works in America.

The livery was maroon with white roofs and "Mersey Railway" in gold left on the upper fascia panels.

Liverpool Central to Rock Ferry, comfort was not a significant issue, but nevertheless there was considerable provision of first class, two cars of five (after the 1936 lengthening, two of six).

[4] The older Mersey units then commonly operated the New Brighton and Rock Ferry branches during the week, and the West Kirby route on Sundays,[4] while the new LMS units operated to and from West Kirby on weekdays, and to New Brighton and Rock Ferry on Sundays.

[4] To allow the introduction of 6-car train in 1936, ten steel-bodied third class trailer (TT) units were built by Gloucester RCW.

1, a first class motor coach, was destroyed in a fire at Derby carriage works paint shop in 1957,[12] where it had been taken for overhaul in preparation for restoration and preservation.