48 Hours in Hamburg

With the new coaster season underway, it was good to reacquaint ourselves with several old coaster friends recently, with a 48 hour away-day in northern Germany.

It has been a fair few years since visiting Heide Park. Last visit was back when Colossus was the new kid on the block.

The park has also grown in size and number of rides since these days, with a number of high profile coaster debuts.

A new B&M is always good to do, and their Wing Coaster, Flug der Daemonen fits the bill for a moderately thrilling coaster but of a manageable size.

Happily the new coasters for me on the visit were open, albeit this early season day would have a fair number of closed rides..

The other B&M coaster was also open and I can confess a fair liking for Dive coasters…perhaps they aren’t extreme, but  I find them a good mix of thrills, in addition to being smoothly satisfying. Krake is an alright, solid ride, similar to its sister Oblivion at Alton Towers.

The only other coaster on the left hand side of the park operating was Big Loop, a Vekoma double loop corkscrew coaster that reminds me of the Arrow ride from long ago at Geauga Lake.

We learned that Colossus would be closed for the season a while ago, but even this knowledge can’t fully prepare you for seeing it standing but not operating. It’s immense presence looms over the park, we can only hope that one day it might return to full service.

Other operating coaster ridden was Desert Race, their Intamin built clone of Rita, Queen of Speed at Alton Towers.

Similar ride, and outcome.

Other than that, major coasters Bob-Bahn was closed due to the weather conditions.

And their Vekoma SLC Limit was… off limits on our visit.

Even though it was very quiet early season midweek day, despite the closures there was a sufficient selection of rides to do within the park. Including those in Huss Corner.

And this unusual spinner from Lutz, ‘Rotor Baron’.

This ride is closed… or is it?

Guess it’s open. Anyway a spin on the water rides is usually in order.

Alongside Heide there was also an opportunity to sample rides at Hamburg Fruhlings-Dom fairground, which features as ever a fabulous collection of unusual and fun carnival attractions.

Welcome.

Top attraction, for coaster enthusiasts is the always consistent TestStrecke, the Schwarzkopf double looping machine. In fine fettle, and still a draw for the crowds.

A coaster not long since in the U.K and another example of a large travelling ride, is WildeMaus XXL. Riding brakeless, until the final station it’s a fun ride.

Kiddie coasters are also popular in these fairs, always well turned out.

Black Hole the portable Zierer ride still gives a fun experience which is always worth a spin. Sort of makes you long for the old Space Invader at Blackpool. These coasters are evidently still capable of pulling the crowds.

And with a great assortment of interesting carnival rides, Sky Dance.

Waltzer type rides seem to be a bit on the rare side in mainland Europe but they do have their moments, as here.

Ghost Trains are always popular, and this one tends to stick around in these parts…attending most Hamburg area events.

Andreas Zinnecker’s amazing Loop Fighter – King.

Dodgem rides abound, with several decent tracks on the ground.

Or perhaps this one.

Hamburg proved to be a fun trip with some excellent coasters and a whole host of other supporting rides and attractions. In addition to the other natural reasons to visit , I fully recommend spending some time here.

Share