Schweizer Bobbahn was the prototype Mack Bobsled.
Located at Europa Park, I had placed this coaster on my worst coasters list in early 2021.
However, I rerode the coaster later that year and my opinion on the coaster has changed…slightly.
Find out what I now think about this Swiss themed bobsled in this review.
Around 10 bobsled coasters were built in the 1930s, but the model then went extinct for nearly
5 decades. The early bobsled coasters were made of wood, but none of the originals still stand.
The only wooden bobsled coaster operating today is Flying Turns at Knoebels, which opened late
in 2013 after a 7 year construction process. Intamin reintroduced the bobsled coaster in
the mid-1980s and the biggest difference was that these coasters would be made out of steel.
Intamin built three for the 1984 season, but only five total. Only two still remaining.
Mack would build a prototype bobsled coaster at Europa Park in 1985 in Schweizer Bobbahn.
And this model would be a little more successful than Intamins. Six were built
and five still remain. The Mack ones have two key differences from the Intamin ones.
First, the Intamin bobsleds use single car trains while the Mack ones feature a chain
of bobsleds strung together. The longer trains allow for increased capacity.
Second, while the trough was also made of steel, it was slatted on the Mack ones
to allow it to drain after rain. The Intamin ones can be closed for days after a rainstorm.
This construction does have a tradeoff. The Mack ones are bumpier. Since the wheels are
essentially running over a grated surface, vehicle vibrates throughout. The Intamin ones ride more
smoothly since it’s a full surface. When I first rode Schweizer Bobbahn,
the vibrations killed the ride for me. However, I have since learned a key trick to enjoying these
Mack bobsleds. Lean forwards. If you’re back isn’t in contact with the seat back,
you don’t notice the shimmy as much. This made the experience much more comfortable for me.
One thing that didn’t change was how awesome this coaster’s appearance is.
I love how the track is integrated into the Switzerland area. And because Europa
has 4-5 trains on the track at once, there’s so much kinetic energy walking around this area.
You see bobsleds whizzing overhead and shooting through tunnels non-stop.
Schweizer Bobbahn usually has a decent wait, hovering around the 20-30 minute mark. Each train
only has 6 cars, seating up to 12 riders, but the lightning fast dispatches and many trains keep the
line moving. You actually bring your bags with you on the ride. That’s a rarity for most coasters!
Up to 2 riders can be seated in a car. You are seated inline similar to a log flume,
so it can be awkward. Then you’re secured by just a loose lap bar.
Once dispatched, you turn out of the station and ascend the 62 foot or 19 meter tall lift hill.
At the top, you navigate this slow and wide 180 degree turn.
Then comes two elements you don’t see on the other bobsled coasters.
You have a decently tall straight drop followed by an uphill ascent.
The drop, while unique, is tame and uneventful. As is the rise into the mid-course brake run.
Schweizer Bobbahn then navigates three consecutive downward U-turns
and you gradually build up speed. This leads into a decent finale. You have a counterclockwise
helix immediately followed by a clockwise helix. These two elements have solid speed and ok force.
And I like the little rock tunnel you pass in between the helixes.
You then rise up into a shed and hit a brake run that essentially ends the ride. Although
you still have a few more turns and block zones to pass through before hitting the unload station.
Schweizer Bobbahn only has 1598 feet or 487 meters of track and it does feel that short.
While the pacing isn’t all that strong until the end of the ride, what about the swinging?
You only really notice the bobsleds creeping up the wall during the final two helixes.
You’re going too slow to do this earlier in the ride.
So what would I rate Schweizer Bobbahn? I would give this prototype a 4 out of 10.
I really like this ride’s appearance and it paved the way for bigger bobsleds from Mack.
But this layout isn’t too strong. The two helixes at the end are the only exciting parts.
The rest of the ride is spent meandering or passing through block zones. This is why I think
it’s the worst bobsled coaster I’ve ridden, but by leaning forwards it’s no longer uncomfortable.
So those are my thoughts on Schweizer Bobbahn at Europa Park. What are your thoughts on the
original Mack bobsled? How do you compare it to the other bobsleds from either Mack or Intamin?
Let me know what you think down in the comments. If you enjoyed this review, I’d appreciate it
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