due to the costs of construction in the mountainous areas between abergavenny and brynmawr and the failure by certain shareholders to pay their dues, the railway company's bank account became overdrawn in late 1861. at the time, the west midland railway introduced a bill seeking to lease the line and extend it to meet the b&m, but the london and north western railway had stolen a march by building up friendly relations with the merthyr, tredegar and abergavenny company, having provided it with assistance during construction. agreement was reached between the companies on 8 november 1861 for a lease of 1,000 years from the date of opening of any section of the route. the l&nwr was later to acquire the smaller company on 30 june 1866.