Aster Hobby Japan

Class B Shay
The most widely used geared locomotive the "Shay locomotive" was invented by a logger Ephraim Shay who wanted to find a way to facilitate logging operations. Instead of using horse drawn skids or river floats he developed a flat car powered by a vertical two cylinder steam engine, running on rails. In 1884 he consulted with a machinery builder, Lima Machine Works in Ohio which designed the first 3 cylinder B-type Shay locomotive named in his honor. The concept gained tremendous popularity and subsequently 2770 Shay locomotive were produced by the company known as Lima Locomotive Works.　
The operation of Shay locomotives was not limited to any region. In fact many Lima Shays were exported for use around the World. In the early 1890's the Alisan Forestry Railway in Taiwan was constructed by the Japanese Colonial Government to facilitate logging of the local forestry resources. The Railway acquired 20 Shay locomotives, eight 18 ton-, and twelve 28 ton versions. Today several of them are preserved in running and static condition.　
Aster Hobby Co. Inc. released the first model of a 28 ton Alisan Shay in 1978. The redesigned 2010 model features improved detail and machining, butane firing and a axle driven feed water pump. Choose your model Shay locomotive as a standard kit, semi assembled or factory built according to your building experience.