c. lxxxii) 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.

An inspection/inaugural run on 12 April 1844 and a ceremonial opening on 30 April 1844, where a train ran from Norwich to Great Yarmouth carrying 200 guests and a brass band followed by "an elegant collation" followed by a return journey of 44 minutes and more lavish festivities in the evening.

[4] The Y&NR was the first railway in the UK to install block signaling making use of the Cooke & Wheatstone Electric telegraph for this purpose.

Members of the public were also allowed to use the system to send messages which the company would then deliver to the recipient.