Musik Express
Family Rides

The music express ride is one of the most recognizable flat rides at fairs and amusement parks. Known in Europe by its original German name, Musik Express, it features a circular track with alternating hills and valleys, where a series of cars travels around a central tower. Each car is connected to the center by a radial arm, so as the ride gathers speed the cars climb and drop continuously, creating the fast, swirling motion that has kept this attraction popular for decades.

A typical cycle starts slowly, with the cars rolling gently over the undulating track while the music builds up. The speed then rises to a maximum of 12 rpm and riders begin to feel strong lateral forces pushing them toward the outside of the car. During the cycle the music express ride reverses its direction, so the backward run feels like a completely new ride. Lights, sound and the canopy that closes over the cars at the peak of the ride turn every cycle into a short show.

For operators, the music express ride offers a rare balance. It is intense enough to attract teenagers and young adults, yet open to children from about five years of age, so it works for a broad audience. With twenty cars and up to 40 seats, it moves a high number of riders per hour, a decisive advantage on busy midways and in parks with large crowds on peak days.

A Music Express Ride for Parks and Travelling Fairs

Our Musik Express is built for both permanent amusement parks and travelling shows. It can be supplied on trailer for operators who move from one fair to the next, as a self-standing structure or on foundation as a fixed attraction. Its footprint of 15 x 15 m (49 x 49 ft) makes it easy to fit into existing park layouts as well as into the limited space of a fairground.

Every unit is manufactured in compliance with the regulations of the destination country and can be fully customized. Our planning office works with each customer on theming, colours, lighting and decorations, so that the ride matches the identity of the park or the style of the show.

Music Express Ride Technical Data

Number of cars	20
Seats	Up to 40 (2 per car)
Maximum speed	12 rpm
Rotation	Forward and backward
Footprint	15 x 15 m (49 x 49 ft)
Minimum rider height	110 cm (43 in), about 5 years of age
Installation	On trailer, self-standing or on foundation
Show effects	Music, lighting, pneumatic canopy

Hourly capacity

on request

Power consumption

on request

Number of seats

up to 40

Speed

12 rpm

Footprint

15x15 mt

Height restrictions

min 110 cm (5 years old)

On trailer

✓

On foundation

✓

Product Key Features

Bi-Directional Rotation – The ride moves both forward and backward, increasing excitement

Undulating Track – Alternating dips and humps create dynamic elevation changes

Centrifugal Thrill – Rapid motion generates strong lateral forces for an intense experience

Music & Light Show

The Story of the Music Express Ride

The story of the music express ride begins in the 1920s, with the first "Caterpillar" fairground rides that offered the public the thrill of spinning in circles to the sound of music. In the following decades, especially in Germany, the attraction evolved and took the name Musik Express, the spelling still used in many European countries today.

Over time it added multicolored lights and increasingly loud music, while keeping its most distinctive feature: the awning that closes for a moment over the cars at the climax of the ride. The very word "Musik" testifies to its German roots. Within a few years the ride became a fixture at fairs and amusement parks around the world, loved by generations of visitors for its mix of speed, colors and sound.

At Preston & Barbieri, we began producing the Musik Express as early as the 1970s. One of our first made-in-Italy models was shipped to Trimper's Rides in the United States in 1976, marking the beginning of a new adventure across the ocean. Since then we have continued to refine the ride while keeping its original spirit intact.

Our Musik Express is distinguished by its twenty brightly decorated cars, capable of running forward and backward at high speed, and by the pneumatic canopy that surprises passengers at the moment of maximum adrenaline. Thanks to the care we put into every detail, the ride continues its journey today, bringing fun to audiences in every corner of the world along with a piece of fairground history.

Music Express Ride F.A.Q.

What is a Music Express ride?

A Music Express ride is a flat ride built around a circular track with alternating hills and valleys. The cars are connected to a central rotating mechanism through radial arms and sweep along the track in a fast, swirling motion, both forward and backward, accompanied by music and lights. Preston & Barbieri has been producing it since the 1970s.

How fast does the Music Express ride go?

The ride rotates at a top speed of 12 rpm. Thanks to the undulating track and the change of direction during the cycle, it generates strong centrifugal forces that make it feel even faster and more intense than the figure alone suggests.

How long does a Music Express ride last?

Ride duration is set by the operator and can be adapted to the venue and the audience. A typical cycle combines forward and backward rotation with the music and light show, while the pneumatic canopy closes over the cars at the peak moment. Contact us to define the cycle length that best fits your operation.

How many people can ride the Music Express?

The Music Express seats up to 40 riders across its twenty cars. This high capacity makes it well suited to busy midways, fairs and amusement parks where throughput matters.

How much space does a Music Express ride need?

Our Music Express requires a footprint of 15 x 15 m (49 x 49 ft). It can be installed on foundation in permanent parks or supplied on trailer for travelling shows, which makes it a practical choice for operators who move between fairgrounds.

Who can ride the Music Express?

The ride is designed for teens, families and general midway audiences. The minimum height requirement is 110 cm (43 in), which corresponds to roughly 5 years of age.