New Lionel Heisler

https://youtu.be/KgKPi2eBYcc

Check out Sean's review. 

LIONEL posted:

Got my new Cass Scenic Lumber Heisler today & no memory module. I E-Mailed Lionel & they stated there is no memory module for the Heislers. The I.B. states in the contents there should be one. Anyone else find this?

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Sounds like more corner-cutting while prices keep escalating.   Either that... or the left and right hand just don't know what the other is doing. 

Hhmmm... for $1100 street / $1300 MSRP, you'd think Lionel would be rolling out the red carpet for model train enthusiasts who buy this little gem.  Instead it seems that buyers need to manually enter the info that would normally be stored in the memory module OR buyers need to buy a sensor track.  Not the end of the world for sure, but it's just the continued reinforcement that we're getting less for our money.  

David 

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

LIONEL posted:

Got my new Cass Scenic Lumber Heisler today & no memory module. I E-Mailed Lionel & they stated there is no memory module for the Heislers. The I.B. states in the contents there should be one. Anyone else find this?

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Either that... or the left and right hand just don't know what the other is doing. 

 

I'm thinking this is probably it. Seems to be a big disconnect with companies and their manufacturers in the Orient. Not just for this market either. It's like there needs to be the equivalent of a babysitter over there watching the assembly lines.

I'm not surprised.  Lionel has been saying for the last couple of years the orange modules are going away.  The sensor track or manual entry is the way to go now.  If you really need a module make one using a black module.  Better yet make just one for your entire roster of engines.  I have 1 black module that replaces 30 orange modules.   I'm sure it's a cost saving measure but it really doesn't affect operation and takes seconds to enter the info manually, less if you have a sensor track.  I'm probably in the minority but I don't see this as a big deal but Lionel should make sure the documentation is correct.

I think the price definitely put off a lot of people on this one as my dealer told me the response to the Heislers was luke warm at best and so they did not order very many extra.  I got the last meadow river one. 

Links to videos of my new 6-82815 #91 Heisler, labeled with the road name "West Fork Logging" rather than the advertised "Mount Rainier Scenic".

The videos show brief run-by's from different angles (sorry all my log cars are packed away).

Crossing temporary bridge Approaching across bridge Close side view of run-by Under side passing

Lionel confirmed through TrainWorld that no memory module was supplied, manual not updated (yet).

Steve

so if I grasp this correctly the sensor track reads the engine upon passing the ir sensor and the memory module info is actually loaded into the engines memory now eliminating the need for the memory module being included with new engine release's.

StPaul posted:

so if I grasp this correctly the sensor track reads the engine upon passing the ir sensor and the memory module info is actually loaded into the engines memory now eliminating the need for the memory module being included with new engine release's.

Yes that is correct.  The info is in the engine, the sensor track reads it and updates the base.

klazys posted:

Links to videos of my new 6-82815 #91 Heisler, labeled with the road name "West Fork Logging" rather than the advertised "Mount Rainier Scenic".

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Thanks for your video posts, Steve.  Enjoy your Heisler.   The smoke stack with the integrated screen generates a cool smoke output.  Very nice!

But that's just crazy that Lionel would actually change the roadname on the locomotive from what was catalog'd.    For a BTO product, that's inexcusable.  And in the bigger picture, I can't even begin to comprehend how Lionel expects enthusiasts to take the company seriously in the BTO game when production changes like that occur without a heads-up about it .  Between that kind of nonsense and BTO locomotives often selling for less AFTER they arrive Stateside (i.e., when dealers offer 10-15% discount sales), I can't imagine why more folks aren't foregoing the pre-order process altogether... and just purchase from dealer stock, of which there has been plenty to choose from recently (i.e., NYC ESE Hudsons and UP FEF-3's just to name two).

I'm sure at some point dealers will realize what's happening.  But until then, I'll probably hold off on BTO pre-orders for a few more catalog cycles.

David

David,

Actually I bought the same Heisler. In the catalog it calls it the Mt. Rainier Scenic #91. But the Graphics show the correct West Fork Logging on the engine. This is correct as the Mt. Rainier Scenic railroad has many engines and all are in the original road name. Example Hillcrest lumber Climax #10, Hammond Lumber Company 2-8-2T #17 (very cool tank engine), Pickering Lumber Shay #11, Polson Logging 2-8-2 #70. I would like to have this one.

The paint on West Fork Logging is correct and very cool. Glad I bought this one. Will be running it with my West Side Lumber Shay.

Blue Streak posted:

... In the catalog it calls it the Mt. Rainier Scenic #91. But the Graphics show the correct West Fork Logging on the engine. This is correct as the Mt. Rainier Scenic railroad has many engines and all are in the original road name. ...

OK... we'll give Lionel a pass on this one then.   The Heisler pagespread appeared a bit fuzzy when I looked at the online catalog, so I was going by the text listing which stated Mount Rainier Scenic #91, NEW!  $1299 MSRP.

I'm still on the fence about these little gems, but a little voice keeps telling me to get one.   

David

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

Blue Streak posted:

... In the catalog it calls it the Mt. Rainier Scenic #91. But the Graphics show the correct West Fork Logging on the engine. This is correct as the Mt. Rainier Scenic railroad has many engines and all are in the original road name. ...

OK... we'll give Lionel a pass on this one then.   The Heisler pagespread appeared a bit fuzzy when I looked at the online catalog, so I was going by the text listing which stated Mount Rainier Scenic #91, NEW!  $1299 MSRP.

I'm still on the fence about these little gems, but a little voice keeps telling me to get one.   

David

Blue Streak thanks for explaining, David sorry but I liked how well the #91 looked, sounded, and ran so it was a keeper regardless of the road name.

Smoke was on max in videos (I believe), and I love the whistle steam effect. Overall I am happy with the locomotive it just makes getting the train room sorted more important (there be log cars here somewhere).

Steve

Question for all you logging experts...

While at Nicholas Smith Trains this afternoon, I got a good close-up look at these Heislers.  I've been tempted to purchase the St. Regis loco, and the tender is labeled, "WFL subsidiary of St. Regis Paper Company".  Is this another reference to West Fork Logging?

Just curious.  Thx in advance! 

David

I got mine last week and ran it for a bit before putting it away for Christmas.  All I can say is boy, is it picky about track.  I couldn't get it to run on my old FasTrack was was a bit dirty and bowed in the middle.  I was rather upset.  But when I put it on my unfinished loop of new Atlas, it ran like a champ.  But I was happy to see it run fine on O36 S-curves.  After watching the above videos, I wish mine had that stack screw, I guess I ordered the one that didn't, but it was the road I wanted.  Also, it's 2 chuffs per rev (Of the drive shaft, not wheels.), is that correct?

Now Lionel needs to re-release the Shay, and do a Climax, ,and my logging locomotive collection will be complete.

Can anybody confirm accuracy of overall dimensions?  According to information I found, the prototype, Cass #6, is about 56' over the pilot beams (not couplers), meaning the model should be 14".