Mecky Express

Wiener Prater

General info

Category

Dark Ride
Type

Train Ride
Status

Operating
Opened

1968

Description

The Mecky Express is a train ride located in the centre of Wiener Prater. It is based on the character of Mecki, a fictional hedgehog that originates from Germany in the 1940s. A series of comic books and puppet movies was created around the character.

The train ride is quite short but it goes around 4 times. Each time different scenes, most of which depict a form of travelling, are lit up.

History

Originally on this located was a different ride called the Schleuderbahn. It existed since at least the 1930s and was a car ride with vehicles that could 'drift' around the corners (a so-called Whip ride). In 1957 a building was constructed around it so it could operate during bad weather.

Around 1962, the inside of the building was decorated with scenes, named 'Im Reiche der Technik' (In the Realm of Technology). The scenes depicted modern technology like models of air planes taking off. In addition, the 'Meckykapelle' was put in at the start of the ride (the orchestra with Meckys, still found today in the station, of which a sign claims it was made in 1960). There was also a model of the Hochschaubahn coaster at Prater, which later got removed.

It wasn't until 1968 that the Schleuderbahn was taken out and replaced by the Mecky Express, which follows the same route as the Schleuderbahn once did.