Music Express Explained

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

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

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

!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 QuickPreviously 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 RacePreviously 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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Majestic Mfg. – Musik Express Specifications . https://archive.today/20120906114556/http://www.majesticrides.com/musikexppg2.htm . dead . 2012-09-06 . 2007-01-28 .
2. Web site: Wisdom Rides – Midsize Himalaya . 2007-01-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070312102805/http://www.wisdomrides.com/catalog/?page=shop%2Fflypage&product_id=32&category_id=aca9b7c5a977d68d96c097558144d1e2 . 2007-03-12.
3. Web site: Home. May's Himalaya Fan Website. 2016-09-16.
4. Web site: Wisdom Rides – Silver Streak . 2007-01-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070312102704/http://www.wisdomrides.com/catalog/?page=shop%2Fflypage&product_id=31&category_id=aca9b7c5a977d68d96c097558144d1e2 . 2007-03-12.