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First Look: Bachmann Heisler
Jan 13, 2004
By David Maynard |
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Well I just received my Bachmann Heisler, so why don't we see what I just got.
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Well I just received my Bachmann Heisler, so why don't we see what I just got. The Heisler is packaged in a two-piece foam block just like the Shay and Climax are, and it comes with a few goodies. Included are a bag of assorted tools and details, an engineer, a fireman, a conductor, tube of smoke fluid, a bag of wire, the manual and a DVD.   There is no VHS tape like with the other locomotives, only the DVD. Since I don't have a DVD player, then I will have to get all of the information I need from the manual. I haven't found out yet what the wire is for.
The Heisler is packaged tightly in the foam so I was careful in removing it from the packaging, then I took it out of its plastic bag for a closer look. The footplate/buffer assemblies come already installed, unlike the Shay and Climax. The stack was lying loose in the bag, and just sits in place on the boiler. My first impression was that the locomotive sits too high, but after digging out some photos I realized that that is the way it's supposed to look. The Heisler tips the scale at 8 pounds, is 19 1/4 inches long from footplate to footplate, 4 3/4 inches wide at the cab, 5 1/2 inches wide at the cylinders, and about 7 1/2 inches high at the backup light, the highest point on the locomotive. One of the new features of this locomotive is that the power polarity switch has a center off setting, so you can turn the engine off and leave it on a siding that is powered, and the thing won't move. CAUTION: Make sure this switch is in the proper position when you want to run the locomotive, it is a little disheartening to get it all lubed up, put it on the tracks and have it not go when you open the throttle. 
The printing for the switches is awfully small and it is just raised lettering in the plastic, this makes it hard to see. The manual shows where the switches are but not what position is what. I had a hard time seeing the printing until I got it outside in daylight. It would have been nice if Bachmann would have put an illustration in the manual showing which position was which setting. On rolling the locomotive on its side to do the initial lubrication, I noticed that there are flexible sand lines going to each truck, I think this is a nice touch, but I wonder how much trouble they will be in the future. 
Also there was a question asked on the Bachmann website about the exposed gear behind the wheels, time will tell if this will get gummed up with dirt and dust. Also the truck gearboxes aren't sealed, and some of the electronics in the front truck are barely visible.  This tells me that I have to be careful to keep moisture away from this engine, but all my stock is kept indoors and I don't play trains in the rain, so this probably won't be an issue for me, but beware if your trains get exposed to any moisture. I took the engine outside to see it run; it started off at 4v indicated on the panel and ran smoothly up my 2 1/2% grade. I opened the throttle to about 20v and the engine accelerated nicely, but the top speed appears to be a bit slower then the Shay. I have my stock packed away for the winter so I didn't unpack the Shay to see if I am right but this is my impression. The engine does smoke, but not as strong as my Shay, but equal to my Climax. At top speed there was some gear whine, but it wasn't very loud and it may quiet down once it's broken in. The rear coupler would not stay coupled to the log cars, it just kept popping open. Since it will be Kadeeized that is not a concern for me, and maybe it is a problem specific to mine, but it was a little disappointing.
The bell pulls are metal rods, and the boiler backhead is detailed, but it is hard to tell since the cab is so enclosed.  The engine is equipped with directional lighting, but they are the dim yellow LED types, so mine will be upgraded at a later time to white LEDs. Most of the piping and the coupler lift bars are metal, but a few waterlines are plastic. The bell, pop vales and whistle are brass. The coal load is detailed plastic, and looks ok. The doors on the sides of the cab open and both panes in both windows slide, so you can open the front or the rear of the windows. The hatch has a stepped brace to hold it open, I like the hatches open so I didn't try to close mine, for fear of breaking the brace.  One thing mentioned on the Bachmann website, but not in the directions, is that to remove the coal load there is a small screw under the water fill hatch that must be removed first.
 Once the coal load is removed then you have access to the electronics, and a place to put a sound board. There are some small slots in the space between the tanks under the cab for a speaker, but it looks like it will have to be a small one.  Overall I am happy with the engine, although I would have liked a VHS tape so I could view the video. I like the detailing, but I am not an expert on the Heister so someone else my wish it had more. I do wish it had a builders plate on it somewhere but it doesn't, I don't know if the prototypes did or not but I suspect they did. Well now I have all three major types of logging locomotives in my roster.
  
  
  
  
  
   
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