Meanwhile, Kaya Tetsudo attracted many fans, because it was known as the storehouse of rare and novel trains, such as the classic steam locomotive produced in the Meiji and Taisho periods, the train made up of wooden two-axle coaches called 'matchbox,' and JNR/JR Diesel Cars Series Kiha 08 purchased from the Japan National Railways (JNR).
その一方、明治・大正時代に製造された古典蒸気機関車をはじめ、「マッチ箱」と呼ばれる木造2軸客車、国鉄から購入した客車改造の国鉄キハ08系気動車など希少車・珍車の宝庫として知られ、多くのファンを集めた。