Three Yodo Line Brothers

Shikoku Railway’s Yodo Line runs along the Shimanto River, known for its limpid stream, and connects western Kochi Prefecture with southern Ehime Prefecture. Three unique trains called the “Yodo Line Brothers” – Shiman Torocco, Kaiyodo Hobby Train and Tetsudo (Railway) Hobby Train – are operated on the line. Shiman Torocco, designed by noted industrial designer Eiji Mitooka, is a two-car train, with one carriage having no windows or walls on both sides to let in fresh air. Kaiyodo Hobby Train was produced through collaboration between Shikoku Railway Co. (JR Shikoku), the operator of the line, and Kaiyodo Co., a manufacturer of figurines. Tetsudo Hobby Train was modeled on the first generation of shinkansen bullet train cars.