The Norfolk Railway was formed by the amalgamation of the first two railways in Norfolk, the Yarmouth & Norwich Railway and the Norwich & Brandon Railway, such merger authorised by Act of Parliament of 30 June 1845. An extension from Wymondham to Dereham opened 7 December 1846, and another from Reedham to Lowestoft 3 May 1847. It also leased the Lowestoft Railway & Harbour Company in 1846. At its maximum it ran 94 route miles.
Although negotiations had taken place with the Eastern Union Railway, it was the Eastern Counties Railway that took over the Norfolk Railway by agreement on 2 May 1848. Parliament failed fully to authorise the amalgamation but sanctioned the working arrangement in 1849.[1]