The railway line between East Greta Junction and Stanford Merthyr was owned and worked by the East Greta Coal Mining Co. When constructed, the Aberdare Railway was jointly controlled by the Australian Agricultural Company and the Aberdare Collieries Ltd of New South Wales, who entered into an agreement with the East Greta Company for haulage over the line. In February 1906, the AA Co. purchased the Aberdare Collieries' share in the Aberdare Railway, giving them 100% control of the Aberdare Railway, but the East Greta Coal Mining Co. continued to work trains over the line.