A method for processing specimens carried by slides within an automated histological staining system, the method comprising: moving a slide carrier toward and into a temperature-controlled internal environment of a stainer within the system, the slide carrier carrying a first slide and a second slide, the first and second slides carrying a first specimen and a second specimen, respectively; while the first and second slides are within the internal environment, conductively heating a thermal mass positioned above the first and second slides and heating the internal environment by forced convection, wherein heating the internal environment by forced convection includes actively circulating gas within the internal environment through a fan positioned below the first and second slides, wherein: heating the internal environment by forced convection includes conductively heating a heat sink positioned below the first and second slides; and actively circulating the gas includes blowing the gas diagonally upward across a surface of the heat sink toward a gap between the slide carrier and the thermal mass positioned above the slide carrier; staining the first and second specimens with at least one of a staining reagent and a counterstaining reagent while the first and second slides are within the internal environment and while an average temperature of the internal environment is greater than ambient temperature; and moving the slide carrier out of the internal environment after staining the first and second specimens. moving a slide carrier toward and into a temperature-controlled internal environment of a stainer within the system, the slide carrier carrying a first slide and a second slide, the first and second slides carrying a first specimen and a second specimen, respectively; while the first and second slides are within the internal environment, conductively heating a thermal mass positioned above the first and second slides and heating the internal environment by forced convection, wherein heating the internal environment by forced convection includes actively circulating gas within the internal environment through a fan positioned below the first and second slides, wherein: heating the internal environment by forced convection includes conductively heating a heat sink positioned below the first and second slides; and actively circulating the gas includes blowing the gas diagonally upward across a surface of the heat sink toward a gap between the slide carrier and the thermal mass positioned above the slide carrier; heating the internal environment by forced convection includes conductively heating a heat sink positioned below the first and second slides; and actively circulating the gas includes blowing the gas diagonally upward across a surface of the heat sink toward a gap between the slide carrier and the thermal mass positioned above the slide carrier; staining the first and second specimens with at least one of a staining reagent and a counterstaining reagent while the first and second slides are within the internal environment and while an average temperature of the internal environment is greater than ambient temperature; and moving the slide carrier out of the internal environment after staining the first and second specimens.