I seem to remember Canada Dock yard being quite busy and also in use by the military quite a lot in the late 70's.
Used to drive down Derby road back then and occasionally at night glimpse rakes of warflats and lowmacs down in the yard with military vehicles on.
I expect once Melwood REME closed, there was probably no need for it anymore.
I sometimes, for a change, got the Diesel from Southport to Limestreet instead of the electric to Exchange (this was before the loop line was constructed with a direct electric route) which dropped off after Bootle Oriel road onto the Canada Dock line line and ended up via the back of Walton and then Tuebrook at Edge Hill and then onto LimeStreet. Some interesting stuff could sometimes be seen parked in
this cutting waiting to be marshalled.
But yes, the line is in good shape and surely wouldn't cost too much to have a third rail put on it and integrated into the system.
They could even re-open the station at Tuebrook then.
Look closely, a leaded light window with the coal merchants name inset and a neon sign. Luxury!
The original bridge here, before it was widened for the dual carriageway improvement, used to have a big painted "Ferodo" advert for brake linings on it. As a child it was a very confusing word.