Meanwhile, as part of its expansion, Newcastle & Darlington Junction Railway had took over the BJR on 1 September 1844, and then purchased the D&SR in 1846. Following its amalgamation with the Great North of England Railway, the Newcastle & Darlington Junction Railway became the York & Newcastle Railway, and took out a lease on the HD&R before both became part of the York, Newcastle & Berwick Railway under an Act of 22 July 1848. Finally, in 1854, the YN&BR, LNR, and York & North Midland Railway were amalgamated to form the North Eastern Railway which eventually absorbed the WHH&R in 1865. Thus, from 1865, one company was in control of the whole through route between Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Sunderland and Newcastle, although the lines remained largely unconnected.