United and PFM came together to build some excellent Shay locomotives. Super detail, good runners these are sought after collectible brass locomotives. This week we look at the Hillcrest Railroad "T Boiler" Shay

Pacific Fast Mail of Edmonds, WA, was around from 1954to about 2007?
For around 30 years Pacific Fast Mail imported brass locomotives made by several manufacturers in Japan. These manufacturers included Tenshodo, United, and Crown. This shay is the Benson Log Co Shay 528.

The Shay locomotive was the most widely used geared steam locomotive. The locomotives were built to the patents of Ephraim Shay, who has been credited with the popularization of the concept of a geared steam locomotive. Although the design of Ephraim Shay's early locomotives differed from later ones, there is a clear line of development that joins all Shays.

Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio built Ephraim Shay's prototype engine in 1880.[3] Prior to 1884, all the Shays Lima produced weighed 10 to 15 short tons (8.9 to 13.4 long tons; 9.1 to 13.6 t) each and had just two cylinders. In 1884, they delivered the first 3cylinder (Class B) Shay, and in 1885, the first 3truck (Class C) Shay. The success of the Shay led to a major expansion and reorganization of the Lima company.[4] When Lima first received the Shay idea it was not impressed, until John Carnes influenced the company to use the idea, resulting in the classic Shay design.

Brass models, made of brass or similar alloys, are scale models typically of railroad equipment, bridges and occasionally, of buildings. Although diecast or plastic models have made considerable advances in late 1990s and continue to improve, brass models offer finer details. Brass models, considered to be collector's pieces and museum quality finish, are often used for display purposes rather than model railroad operations. However, these can be made fully operational and many railroaders do use them on their model railroads. They are generally considerably more expensive than other types of models due to limited production quantities and the "handmade" nature of the product itself.