I’ve been contemplating whether planting a fictitious station at Oby would be in context with the other railways in that part of Norfolk. Although I’m happy with a make believe scenario I still like to think it will be plausible. This is one reason I have a liking for ‘might have been’ subjects.  Oby was never a might have been.

Imagine, therefore, my delight when reading ‘The Norfolk Railway – Railway Mania in East Anglia 1834-1862’ by John Barney, pub. Mintaka Books 2007, to find reference to ‘The North Coast Continuation Railway.’ Running from Reedham to North Walsham via Acle this speculative proposition was not heard of again after 1845 – there being no actual demand for a line such as the NCCR.

This is my sort of prototype but a quick look at the map suggested that – in the absence of any details of a potential route – my choice of route would miss Oby. However at this time of course the Great Yarmouth and Stalham Light Railway that later formed the eastern end of the M&GN and which would not be opened until 1877 was not a consideration.

The Island of Flegg – http://www.fleggisland.co.uk/Villages.html – would therefore, be an ideal destination for a branch line. I imagine this branch would have left the NCCR and crossed the River Bure in the vicinity of Upton on the west bank and Oby on the east bank. Oby Staithe would be the first station on the branch.

Plausible? I think so.