The Heisler locomotive was the last variant of the three major types of geared steam locomotive. Its designer and manufacturers claimed it was the fastest of the three but retained the low-speed hauling capability. As such it was used in mining and logging/lumbering industries as well as other places which required heavy hauling. From a 1923 Heisler marketing catalog:
"Why you can haul at least 30% more per ton of locomotive with the modern Heisler"
Bachmann has
delivered a DCC-equipped model with the fine detailing expected in the Spectrum® line, along with 16-bit
Tsunami® plug-and-play sound capability. (Separate-sale Bachmann Item No. 44953, Stearns-Heisler Sound Module, required for sound on board performance)
Features include:
- DCC-equipped for speed, direction and lighting control
- Sound ready with factory-installed speaker
- Dual-mode NMRA-compliant decoder
- Die-cast construction
- Coreless motor
- All-gear drive
- Enclosed gearbox
- Heavy-duty universals and driveshafts
- Prototypically powered trucks and gearboxes
- Constant soft white LED lighting
- Blackened brass handrails and piping
- E-Z Mate® Mark II couplers
- Choice of three stacks and optional oil bunker included
- Contoured wheel spokes per prototype
- Plug-and-play sound-ready (Tsunami® sound module available separately)
Bachmann On30 Stearns-Heisler Model Information:
| Manfacturer: Bachmann | Release Date: 2013 |
| MSRP (USD): $419-$450 | Catalogs: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| Length: 144 mm / 5.65 in | Weight: 358 g / 12.6 oz |
| Length over couplers: 160 mm / 6.28 in | Within On30 Clearance Gauge: Yes |
| Width: 46 mm / 1.78 in | Height: 70 mm / 2.74 in |
| Front Coupler: Bachmann E-Z Mate® Mark II | Rear Coupler: Bachmann E-Z Mate® Mark II |
| Front Coupler Height (note 2): Pass | Rear Coupler Height (note 2): Pass |
| Recommended Radius: 15 in or greater | Reported Minimum Radius (note 4): |
| NMRA Conformance Warrant: No | NMRA S-4 Wheels (note 2): Pass |
| NMRA S-2 Couplers (note 2): Pass | NMRA S-9 Electrical: |
| NMRA S-7 Clearance (note 3): Pass | RP-25 Wheel Contour: no statement |
| RP-9.1.1 Electrical Interface and Wire Color Code: | |
| Power Modes: DC, NMRA DCC | Interface Socket: Yes |
| DCC: Bachmann Dual mode DC/DCC on board | DCC Sound: Optional - Bachmann (Tsunami) Sound Decoder Item No. 44953, MSRP $129 |
| Power pickup: All wheel | DCC Sound control on DC power: Automatic engine sounds, only (no user control on DC) |
| Drawbar Pull (note 1): TBC | Primary Construction Material: Diecast |
| Model Evaluated: Bachmann Item No. 28803 | Evaluation Date: May 2018 |
| Fidelity to the Prototype: Other than being a very small Heisler, it is judged excellent! | |
Roadnames:
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Bachmann On30 Stearns-Heisler: Tune-ups, Updates and Conversions
- Foothill Model Works - Re-gauging Stearns-Heisler from On30 to On3
- banta modelworks T-2133 Wood Cab for Bachmann Heisler - also available from Micro-Mark and some local hobby shops and mail order dealers
- Backwoods Miniatures Conversion Kit for the Bachmann On30 Heisler
- Adding a Keep Alive to your Bachmann Heisler - Larry Puckett
Bachmann On30 Stearns-Heisler: Additional Articles of Interest
- Bachmann Tsunami® (SoundTraxx) Heisler Sound Reference
- Operating your Bachmann DCC Sound equipped Locomotive with a Traditional DC Power Pack
- Operating your Bachmann Tsunami Sound-Equipped Locomotive with DCC
- Bachmann On30 Stearns-Heisler Sound Module Instructions
- Bachmann On30 Stearns-Heisler Parts Reference 1
- Bachmann On30 Stearns-Heisler Parts Reference 2
- Bachmann On30 Stearns-Heisler Parts Reference 3
Heisler Locomotives: Books for further reading
Heisler Locomotive Works. Heisler Geared Locomotives Catalog. Erie, Penna.: Heisler Locomotive Works, 1923, 38 pages.
About this book from BarnesandNoble.com: In 1892 Charles Heisler received a patent for a new kind of geared locomotive. Equipped with twin canted cylinders, the engine utilized a drive shaft to power outboard axles and connecting rods to power the inboard axles. As a result of this 'vee-twin' arrangement, the Heisler was one of the fastest geared steam locomotives, providing more power with lower operating costs. Over 600 Heislers were produced from the 1890's until 1941, when the Heisler Locomotive Works closed its doors. This reproduction of the company's illustrated catalog dates from the 1920's. It shows the full line of Heisler products and presents a compelling argument for their use.
Kline, B.F.G., Jr. The Heisler Locomotive, 1891-1941. Kline, 1982, 199 pages.
About this book from BookFinder.com: Fascinating and handsomely done authoritative history of the Heisler geared locomotive. Chapters include a biography of Charles L. Heisler, a description of the Stearns Manufacturing Co., the Heisler Locomotive Works, the Whitney Engineering Co., the origins, development and refinement of the Heisler, the purpose, distribution and performance of the Heisler, competitors of the Heisler, the construction of a Heisler, Heisler's last years, detailed scale drawings, builder lists, and an owner list. Illustrated throughout with black and white photos. With bibliography and index. Some copies of the book contain an Addenda and Errata Sheet with list of existing Heislers as of November, 1982.