When this museum opened, there was a rule that locomotives should be preserved in working conditions. In fact, 15 locomotives excluding the two (Class C53 #45 and Class C51 #239) were registered for operation. However, the scope of locomotives to be preserved has been reconsidered several times since then. As of 2006, 7 locomotives of 7 different classes are preserved in working conditions.
開館当初は動態保存が原則であり、C53形45号機とC51形239号機の2両を省き15両に車籍があったが、その後保存対象車両の見直しが何度か行われ2006年現在、動態保存機は7形式7両となっている。