A cat turned "station master" is credited with attracting thousands of new passengers to a nearly bankrupt rail line near Kishigawa, Japan.

The number of passengers rose by 55,000 since Tama the cat began "working" at the unmanned Kishi station in Wakayama Prefecture in January 2007, Kyodo News reported Sunday.

The line, run by Wakayama Electric Railway Co., was on the verge of bankruptcy until Tama, who wears a little station master's hat, came on the scene and began drawing fans from across Japan, Kyodo News reported.

Tama, a friendly pet cat whose owner has a kiosk next to the station, has her own line of products for sale to tourists who flock to watch her walk around and greet passengers, Kyodo News reported.