Liverpool and Birkenhead docks were certainly most important handlers of export locos from Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, and Beyer-Peacock, Gorton, Manchester. Larger loading gauges abroad meant factory-to-ship delivery had to be by road, partly dismantled, as the loco would not fit under our bridges or past our platforms.
You would often see Edward Box's heavy loads vehicles on the East Lancs Road into Liverpool.
I lived opposite Port Sunlight station until the mid '60s and strange rail carriages built by Metro-Cammell, Birmingham, would be seen trundling past. Sometimes temporary bogies would be fitted for the journey to the docks.
Those really were 'the good old days' of full employment when we were railway builders to the world. Only reasonable because we did invent them, courtesy of Mr Brassey and others!!!
Bri