Rivarossi Heisler Steam Locomotive St. Regis Paper Company #92 3-Truck HO Scale w/DCC Sound Decoder Model Train HR2948S

The Heisler, a steam locomotive invention, has had a significant impact on the logging industry of the United States since its inception in 1891. Charles L. Heisler received a patent for the locomotive in 1892, and it continued to be widely used until 1941, when it was still being operated regularly.

Although the Heisler was considered the fastest of the geared steam locomotives, its notoriety stemmed from its exceptional pulling capabilities. The high tractive effort made it well-suited for moving long, heavy strings of loaded log cars both on flat ground and uphill. In the two-truck model, the cylinders were centrally located under the drive shaft, while in the three-truck model, the drive shaft extended into the tender for increased fuel and water capacity, allowing for longer and heavier trips.

One distinctive feature of the Heisler was the slanted inward positioning of the cylinders at a 45-degree angle. The center shaft only drove one axle per truck, as the wheels in each truck were connected with a side rod. Over 625 Heislers were produced, ranging in size from 17 to 95 tons.

The Heisler was widely utilized in the logging industry, often seen pulling logs out of the forests of the Pacific Northwest, particularly on the Milwaukee Railroad Line connecting the west to the east and the Northern Pacific. The St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company, which later merged with the St. Regis Paper Company, a renowned producer of paper, was one of the major users of the Heisler.

Rivarossi, an Italian manufacturer and part of the Hornby Hobbies family of brands, has produced some of the most iconic locomotives in steam, diesel, and electric over the last 50 years. Their Heisler locomotives and rolling stock feature knuckle couplers and are DCC equipped with 21-pin socket ESU LokSound 5.0 decoders for digital circuits in HO 1:87 and OO 1:76 gauge railway layouts.

To complete the authentic logging locomotive look, Rivarossi offers matching Skeleton log cars, which were regularly seen being pulled by Heislers out of the woods in the upper Midwest and Western United States in the early 20th century.

The development of the West was greatly influenced by the steam locomotive, which became the new workhorse in forestry. These locomotives were able to navigate the difficult terrain and haul timber, which was then quickly manufactured in paper mills and used in the construction of new towns as the region continued to grow and shape the previously inaccessible mountains and dense forests.

Building your model railway layout has never been easier with Hornby's brands, such as Skaledale and Skale Scenics, which bring your layout to life with a wide range of buildings, monuments, and trees, adding realism to any layout or diorama.

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