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Music Express

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(Redirected from The Music Express)
Music Express at Night.
The Love Train is an example of the Music Express ride when lit at night.
A Music Express in operation at Six Flags Great Adventure
A Music Express at night in operation at Kennywood Park

A Music Express is an amusement ride based on the original Caterpillar rides of Germany. Several near-identical ride designs are also produced by other companies: Musik Express by Italian company Bertazzon and US Majestic Rides, Himalaya by American company Wisdom Rides, German company Mack, and French company Reverchon, and Silver Streak by Wisdom Rides. This ride is a modern adaptation of the famous Harry Traver Caterpillar rides.

Design and operation

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Musik Express of Suomen Tivoli during the 2009 Circus Festival in Kerava, Finland

The ride features twenty 3-passenger cars connected in a circle. These cars rotate on a track with alternating sloped and flat sections. Rotation is possible in both a backward and forward direction, as the ride is manually operated. The ride is powered by 4 DC motors, and can reach a maximum speed of 12 revolutions per minute. (Certain older models have a hydraulic tire/rim drive and they have a tendency to go faster).

The riders in each car are restrained by a single solid lap bar that is locked across the body of the car, making the ride unsuitable for young children or people of short stature. The bar must be manually locked or unlocked, and only locks in one position. Lights and music are also controlled by the operator, which (as the name suggests) contribute heavily to the ride experience. After a certain amount of rotations or minutes, the ride operator will be alerted by the control box that the speed is going to increase, usually by a light on the box. At that time the operator will speak on a microphone asking the riders if they would like to go faster. Sometimes the ride operator can do this earlier than the alert light to build suspense. After a minute or two of faster speed, the ride will then slow down, and the operator can then ask the riders if they would like to go backwards. The speed up element is then repeated again only done in reverse. Most parks and carnivals require riders to be at least 42 inches or even taller, depending on circumstances and ride design.

Most Musik Expresses are built with a backdrop dividing the rear third of the ride from the front two-thirds. This backdrop, normally covered in artwork and lights, and providing a mild headchopper-like effect as the riders enter and exit the rear section. As this blocks lines of sight, additional staff are required to safely supervise this ride in operation.

More common in Europe than the US, some Music Express rides have a canopy that the operator can cover the ride while in operation, very much like the old caterpillar rides.

At Kennywood Park's and Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom's Musik Express, written above are the words "Mit Musik Geht Alles Besser", which translated from German reads, "With Music Everything Goes Better."

The variant used in fairs across Hawaii feature murals of several famous artists, such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley, the logo of The Rolling Stones, and even fictional bands and singers.

Variations

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Video of Super Himalaya at Cedar Point, a Mack Rides variation
Bertazzon Musik Express
No major variations from Mack Rides version.
Majestic Manufacturing Musik Express
14 cars, hydraulic locking system, increased top RPM.[1]
Wisdom Rides Himalaya
22 cars.[2]
Mack Rides Himalaya
Music Express, Diskothek
Reverchon Himalaya
Original Himalaya ride design.[3]
Wisdom Rides Silver Streak
16 cars, smaller height difference, multiple lap bar positions.[4]
SDC Amor Express
Billed as "The Love Machine", circa late 70s, with hydraulic drive and canopy, very much like the original caterpillar rides. Not many found in US anymore but they still can be found in European fair circuits and parks.

Appearances

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Name Manufacturer Location Opened Status Closed Notes
Aztek Express Mack Rides Bobbejaanland 1996 Operating
Cannonball Express Mack Rides Great Escape 1985 Operating
Cosmotron Wisdom Rides Knoebels Amusement Resort 1998 Operating Fully enclosed. Converted from a Caterpillar ride
Crab Race Wisdom Rides Fantasy Island 2021 Operating
Electric Ring Preston & Barbieri Legendia c.2014 Operating Previously located at Sommerland Syd as Safari-Expressen (unknown-2012).
Expreso Musical Mack Rides Six Flags México 1990 Operating
Fantasia Sobbema Coney Beach Pleasure Park 1999 Operating
Flash: Speed Force Mack Rides Six Flags Magic Mountain 1974 Operating Formerly named Himalaya, Subway, ACME Atom Smasher, and Atom Smasher.
Galaxy Soli Adventureland 1980 Defunct 1990
Hilltopper Mack Rides California's Great America 1977 Defunct
Himalaya Wisdom Rides Adventureland 2000 Operating
Himalaya Reverchon Kentucky Kingdom 1990 Operating Standing But Not Operating (SBNO) along with the rest of the park 2009-2013.
Himalaya Reverchon Sylvan Beach Amusement Park 2009 Operating Previously located at Casino Pier (1966-2000's).
Himalaya Reverchon Trimper's Rides 1976 Operating
Industrial Revolution Mack Rides Six Flags Great America 1977 Defunct 1984 Formerly named Hilltopper
Music Express Preston & Barbieri Allou! Fun Park 2018 Operating
Music Express Moser Rides Hersheypark 1999 Operating
Music Express Mack Rides Indiana Beach 2011 Operating
Music Express Mack Rides Playland c.1981 Defunct 2022
Music Express SBF Visa Group PowerPark 2002 Operating
Music Express Modern Products Rainbow Park 1975 Defunct 2008 Previously located at Ocean Beach Fun Fair (1975-1995).
Music Express Mack Rides Rusutsu Resort 1997 Operating
Music Express Wisdom RIdes Rye Playland 2008 Operating
Music Express Bertazzon Seabreeze Amusement Park 2008 Operating Previously located at Wild West World (2007).
Music Express Bertazzon Waldameer & Water World 2013 Operating
Musik Express Bertazzon Casino Pier 2014 Operating
Musik Express Mack Rides Cliff's Amusement Park 2005 Operating Previously located at Miracle Strip Amusement Park (1973-2003).
Musik Express Mack Rides Dorney Park 1984 Operating
Musik Express Mack Rides Kennywood 1987 Operating
Musik Express Mack Rides Kuwait Magic c.2007 Operating Previously located at Yokohama Dreamland (1980-2002).
Musik Express Mack Rides Lagoon 1982 Operating
Musik Express Preston & Barbieri M&D's 2017 Operating Formerly named Kiss Me Quick

Previously located at Sofia Land (2002-2006), and Dreamland Margate (2015-2016).

Musik Express Bertazzon Morey's Piers 1991 Operating
Musik Express Mack Rides Six Flags Great Adventure 1976 Defunct 2007
Muzik Express Mack Rides Geauga Lake 1978 Defunct 2002
Ooort's Express SBF Visa Group Berjaya Times Square Theme Park 2003 Operating
Rev Booster SBF Visa Group Ocean Park Hong Kong 2011 Operating
Rip Curl Wisdom Rides Fun Spot Orlando 2013 Operating
Rock & Roll Bertazzon Belle City Amusements 2003 Operating
Rock & Roll Bertazzon Fun Spot Kissimmee 2022 Operating
Rock & Roll Bertazzon Playland's Castaway Cove 2021 Operating
Rock Jet Reverchon Gröna Lund 1976 Operating
Rockin' Reeler Reverchon Worlds of Fun 1991 Defunct 2005
Space Race Sobema Flambards Theme Park 1990 Operating Formerly named Chariot Race

Previously traveled German fair circuit (1987-1988) and located at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach (1990).

Super Himalaya Mack Rides Cedar Point 1970 Operating
SuperCat Preston & Barbieri Valleyfair 1976 Operating
Tango Train SBF Visa Group Luna Park Sydney 2016 Operating
Tsunami Bertazzon Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 1999 Operating
Yucatan Mack Rides PortAventura Park 1995 Operating

References

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  1. ^ "Majestic Mfg. – Musik Express Specifications". Archived from the original on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2007-01-28.
  2. ^ "Wisdom Rides – Midsize Himalaya". Archived from the original on 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2007-01-28.
  3. ^ "Home". May's Himalaya Fan Website. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
  4. ^ "Wisdom Rides – Silver Streak". Archived from the original on 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2007-01-28.