Railway enthusiasts successfully revive the vintage East German merry-go-round: "A meticulous, lengthy process, almost a lifetime commitment"
Historic Merry-Go-Round from DDR Times Restored at Schlettau Station
In the heart of the Erzgebirge, the goods shed at Schlettau station is now home to a significant historical treasure from DDR times - a merry-go-round that has been lovingly restored by the railway club 'Bahnhof Schlettau'.
The merry-go-round, built in 1952, features small cars, motorcycles, and bicycles made from sheet metal and wood. It was previously located in Königswalde, in the garden of the descendants of the showman family Hahn. After years of travel from fair to fair, the merry-go-round was transported to Schlettau, arriving in wagons that were overgrown with grass and the wooden beams covered with cardboard.
The club bought the merry-go-round with the wagons and has been restoring it since rebuilding the goods shed from 2012 to 2018. A carpenter was involved in the restoration process, but the name of the tinkerer working on the historic merry-go-round is not publicly available.
Restoring the merry-go-round is a challenging task, almost equivalent to a lifetime's work, according to club chairman Jochen Meyer. The merry-go-round's incandescent bulbs are difficult to reach and the location of additional bulbs is being researched. Approximately 1200 lights need to be repaired to function again.
The merry-go-round's electronics are unclear and require someone with a combination of tinkering and electrical skills to fix. The merry-go-round's vehicles may have the ability to honk, but connecting them would take an estimated two more years.
The goods shed of Schlettau station now houses this piece of DDR history, thanks to the efforts of the club members. The merry-go-round came in handy as it fulfilled the historical use requirement set by the heritage authority, which only provided funds if the building was used historically.
The merry-go-round will be showcased at the upcoming '200 Years of Railway' festival, offering visitors a chance to experience the fairground magic at the weekend. However, a ride on the merry-go-round is not yet possible due to ongoing restoration work and functional issues.
Switching to LED lights is not an option as the merry-go-round should remain as original as possible. This means that the club members are currently focusing on repairing the 1200 lights by hand. The merry-go-round's wooden beams were in a poor state, with 28 out of 32 original wooden beams needing to be replaced.
Despite the challenges, the club members are determined to bring the merry-go-round back to its former glory. The merry-go-round is a testament to the passion and dedication of the club members and is a valuable addition to the historical collection at Schlettau station.
