Yarmouth & Norwich Railway

The Yarmouth & Norwich Railway (Y&NR) was the earliest railway in Norfolk, England. It became apparent that it would be a number of years before the Eastern Counties Railway would extend their railway into Norfolk.

Its Act of Parliament of 18 June 1842 authorised the issue of £200,000 worth of shares to build a line between the two towns in its name, via Reedham and the Yare valley. The act laid out fees for the carriage of coal (which would arrive at Yarmouth by sea), bricks, iron,stone,fish and cotton as well as passengers.

People

The Chairman was George Stephenson and the Chief Engineer was his son Robert assisted by George Parker Bidder whilst the main contractor was Morton Peto. Shareholders included Sir Edmund Henry Knowles Lacon, John Edward Lacon (banker), Charles John Palmer (solicitor) and William Hurry Palmer (shipbuilder). [1][2]

Opening

Construction started in April 1843 and the 20.5 miles were completed in a year, with an inspection/inaugural run on 12 April 1844 and a ceremonial opening on 30 April 1844, followed the next day by the beginning of regular passenger services.

Merger

The Y&NR was merged with the Norwich & Brandon Railway on 30 June 1845, just prior to the opening of the latter, to form the Norfolk Railway, itself a founding constituent of the Great Eastern Railway amalgamation in 1862.[3] The route is now part of the Wherry Lines.

References

  1. ↑ Allen, Cecil J. (1975). The Great Eastern Railway (6th ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan.
  2. ↑ Cooper, John M (April 1993). "The Lowestoft to Norwich Railway". Great Eastern Journal 74: 4.
  3. ↑ White, H.P. (1987). Thomas, David St John, eds. A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain — Volume 3: Greater London (3rd ed.). Dawlish: David & Charles.
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