The Yarmouth and Norwich Company opened their railway line on 1st.May 1844. This put Reedham on the railway map. The Chairman of the company was George Stephenson and the Engineer was his son Robert. Also associated with project was Sir Samuel Peto the famous Baptist and it was he by promoting the railway from Lowestoft that caused Reedham to become a Junction. A plaque commemorates his opening of Lowestoft station 3rd. May 1847. This was by virtue of a bill passing through parliament and achieving royal assent on 30th. June 1845 promoted by the Lowestoft Railway and Harbour Company.

1863 map showing Reedham Junction 

The first railway built in the UK under an act of parliament was the Middleton Railway near Leeds. The act passed June 9th 1758, exactly twenty-three years before the birth of George Stephenson. Stephenson was brought up in the Industrial North East Of England, surrounded by poverty, but being motivated by his surroundings was self-educated. He became enginewright at Killingworth Colliery before moving into locomotive work. Interestingly although having a reputation as one of the great innovators of the railways he in fact was not an entirely original inventor, he was a great improver and perseverer and a very shrewd businessman.