Pacific Fast Mail, PFM

History of Pacific Fast Mail (PFM) Model Trains – Brass HO and HOn3 Collectibles

Pacific Fast Mail (PFM) model trains are legendary in the world of HO scale and HOn3 narrow gauge model railroading. Known for producing high-quality brass model trains, PFM set the standard for precision-crafted locomotives, freight cars, and passenger cars that faithfully replicate historic American railroads.

Founded in the mid-20th century, PFM model trains quickly became sought-after collectibles for narrow gauge and HO scale enthusiasts. Their lineup includes PFM HOn3 locomotives, PFM brass freight cars, and PFM passenger cars, all celebrated for historical accuracy, fine detailing, and superior craftsmanship. Collectors prize PFM brass models for their realistic features, hand-painted finishes, and faithful reproduction of railroads like the Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) and the Rio Grande Southern (RGS).

Over the years, PFM HO and HOn3 model trains have become highly collectible, with both vintage PFM brass models and factory-painted ready-to-run PFM trains attracting attention from serious model train collectors worldwide. Whether you are searching for rare PFM HOn3 locomotives, PFM freight cars, or PFM passenger cars, these models are prized for their authenticity and attention to detail.

For enthusiasts of narrow gauge railroads, PFM HOn3 model trains remain a benchmark of craftsmanship and collectible value. Whether you are expanding a HO scale layout, building a HOn3 narrow gauge diorama, or adding to a collection of vintage PFM brass model trains, Pacific Fast Mail continues to represent the pinnacle of model railroad artistry and historical accuracy.

Company History of Pacific Fast Mail

• Pacific Fast Mail was founded by Bill Ryan in the early 1950s, with initial HO‑scale brass locomotive imports appearing around 1955.

• Under Ryan’s leadership, PFM brought in models from Japan (notably from builders like Tenshodo) and became one of the largest and most respected importers of brass model trains in HO and narrow gauge scales.

• In the mid‑1960s, control shifted to Don Drew, under whom PFM expanded into not only importing brass locomotives but also publishing model‑railroad books and related sound equipment.

• The cost of Japanese manufacturing rose and the market for brass importing shifted in the late 1970s and 1980s. As a result, PFM gradually reduced its brass import business and changed focus over time.

• For many years, PFM’s full‑page ads in model‑railroading magazines and their catalogues made them a fixture in the hobby; their early brass steam locomotives (especially HO scale) are still highly collectible.

• While PFM no longer operates in the brass importing capacity it once did, models bearing the PFM name remain sought after by collectors.