Santaland Express

Santaland Express
Years active	1986-2003, 2008-2011, 2013, 2015, 2021, 2024
Sponsor	Macy's (1986-1992, 1994-1996, 2003, 2008-2011, 2013, 2015, 2024) American Movie Classics (1993) OshKosh B'Gosh (1997-2002) Universal Orlando Resort (2021)
Designer	Manfred Bass Jennifer Palmer (2021 Costumes)
Type	Float

The Santaland Express is a legacy float from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

History with the Macy's Parade

The Santaland Express made its debut as the Monopoly Game Train in the 1985 Parade. Sponsored by Parker Brothers, the float celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Monopoly board game, and featured Rich Uncle Pennybags riding up front.

The float was designed by lead designer Manfred Bass and constructed by the artisans Macy’s Parade Studio in Hoboken, New Jersey as a replica of a vintage steam locomotive. Using a school bus chassis, an engine and some axles, farm tractor tires, a smokestack, and a whistle, the 45-foot long, 8-foot wide, and 17.5-foot tall float spouts a plume of real steam more than 30 feet into the air. According to the history section of the Macy’s Parade website, one of the most challenging aspects of the float was creating realistic train wheels using fibreglass. Escorting the float on its maiden voyage were 20 engineers.

The following year, the locomotive was stripped of its Monopoly branding and was made into a Macy’s-sponsored float inspired by a Civil War locomotive, christened the Herald Square Express Train. Little was changed on the float from its previous iteration, apart from the removal of the “Monopoly” signs from its sides.

In 1987, an emblem featuring a golden eagle and star was added to the train’s smokestack, a design that would further be incorporated into the float during its later appearances. The float also experienced technical difficulties that year, as it broke down and had to be towed by an emergency vehicle.

Boughs of holly, garland, and bows decorated the Herald Square Express Train for the 1989 Parade, serving as a stage for the America Sings! chorus, who performed a medley of holiday classics before welcoming Santa Claus into Herald Square.

In 1990, the float was given a country-themed makeover, replicating the look of a Western steam engine with a horned headlight, star-spangled bunting, and waving American flags. Further celebrating the country’s pioneering spirit, a 28-foot long coal car was added to the float in 1991, which was decorated with a detailed mural of America’s heartland. The now 70-foot long tandem unit carried a precious cargo of 15 western kids and 15 kid engineers.

In 1992, the float paid tribute to some of the most popular American folk heroes. An animated figure of Pecos Bill (recycled from the Reynolds Metals Company float) appeared in the coal car. The passengers on the float included Joey Lawrence as Johnny Appleseed, and Dr. Joyce Brothers as Annie Oakley.

The American Movie Classics cable network sponsored the float in 1993, temporarily renaming it the Hollywood Express. The float promoted the upcoming AMC special, All Aboard! Riding the Rails of American Film, which told the story of how the railroads and Hollywood together have reflected the passion, love, and innocence of America’s past. The original production’s host, Eva-Marie Saint, appeared on the float alongside Bob Dorian and acting great Debbie Reynolds. The following year, the float returned to its previous identity as the Herald Square Express, and was once again sponsored by Macy’s.

In a novel twist, the Herald Square Express led the procession of floats in the 1995 Parade. The Cat in the Hat, who was named Macy’s Holiday Ambassador of that year, joined in the fun and rode up front.

In 1996, the float was given its now-iconic name, the Santaland Express, named after the annual walk-through Santaland attraction at Macy’s Herald Square. In addition to the engineers, holiday gnomes joined in as escorts for the float. The following year, coinciding with the “ultra-modernized” revamp of the Santaland (now Macyland) attraction, the float was renamed the Macyland Express, and was furnished by attraction sponsor OshKosh B’Gosh.

Due to the “complete disaster” of the Macyland attraction, the decision was made to bring back Santaland’s original incarnation for the 1998 holiday season. As such, the steam engine was named the Santaland Express once again in the 1998 Parade.

In 2001, the Santaland Express was updated to promote the newest Macy’s Puppet Theater show, Percy, The Poor Little Penguin, which followed the titular Percy, the arctic penguin who was allergic to snow. Riding in the coal car with a cargo of smiling children and brighty-wrapped gifts was a 25-foot tall inflatable of Percy himself, standing proudly with his monogrammed hanky. Costumed characters of Percy and his pals—PB Polar Bear, Adele Lee, King, Dr. Tusk, and Nurse Fish—joined Florence Henderson (the show’s narrator) as Mrs. Claus.

In 2003, the float returned to its old west-inspired theme as the Wild West Express Train. Departing from 77^th Street and Central Park West, the float barreled down Broadway with a trainload of stars from the NBC sitcom, Happy Family—Christine Barranski, Jeff Davis, Tyler Francavilla, Susan Gibney, and Melanie Paxson. Following this appearance, the float was temporarily retired from the line of march.

In celebration of Macy’s 150^th anniversary in 2008, the Santaland Express made its grand return to the Macy’s Parade lineup. With whistles blowing, bells ringing, and billowing steam, an inflatable featuring a Cornucopia of Macy’s Characters rode in the coal car. This return appearance wouldn’t be without issue, however, as it once again experienced a technical malfunction around Times Square. The float was sidelined, and later joined the lineup behind the Santa’s Sleigh float once the appropriate repairs were made. Despite the float’s malfunction, the float’s guest stars—legendary singer Andy Williams, joined by the CAP21 Dancers—made sure to put the holiday season on the right track with a performance of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

In 2009, the float returned with yet another name change, now known as the Holiday Express. The coal car was absent from this appearance, however the float would be joined by a group of Western Clowns that amused the crowds with their wild antics.

The steam train chugged down Broadway once again in the 2010 Parade, now under the moniker of the Golden Eagle Express. Children dressed snuggly in their winter best were joined by The Tonight Show’s Jimmy Fallon and his house band, The Roots, as they performed an uproarious medley of Christmas classics.

The float returned to its western incarnation for the 85^th anniversary procession in 2011, and was escorted by a handsome Buffalo Bill and a gaggle of court jester cowpoke in 50-gallon hats. Former NBC telecast host Willard Scott was slated to make an appearance, however he was unable to make the appearance for undisclosed reasons. The float experienced a one-year hiatus after this appearance.

In 2013, the Wild West Express made a pit stop in the famed lineup once again, huffing and puffing its way along the 2.5-mile Parade route. This appearance, like 1987 and 2008, was once again plagued by a malfunction. The float broke down shortly after arriving on 6th Avenue, and its escorts would walk the rest of the Parade route on foot—the spare gas tank for the float's generator allegedly went missing. The float’s talent, international holiday stars Mannheim Steamroller, remained on the float however. Originally meant to appear between the Adventure Time with Finn & Jake and Buzz Lightyear balloons, the float was able to rejoin the procession just before its grand finale with the Macy’s Great American Marching Band.

After another one-year-hiatus, the float returned as the Santaland Express for the 2015 Parade as a preview to Santa’s highly-anticipated entrance. Escorted along the route by a jolly group of Gnomes, the passengers on the steam locomotive were characters from Macy’s Santaland, candy cane kids, Christmas trees, elves, and holiday treats. Following this appearance, the float was once again temporarily retired.

In 2021, the float returned to promote that year’s run of Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, the nightly parade held at Universal Orlando Resort. Now known as the Santa Express, the 78-foot long floating wonder carried a cargo of excited elves and was joined by its Santa hat-wearing Blue Starflake balloon escorts. The float ran out of gas as it reached 34^th Street and stalled just before the finish line. It was able to move again after the rest of the Parade had passed by, joining just after the “Believe” Star balloons. The Santa Express was once again retired after this appearance.

The float was planned to appear in the 2023 Parade as Macy's Express Train, though it was eventually removed from the lineup. The float made its proper return in the 2024 parade, with the 2021 modifications removed. The Santa Express would yet again be retired following this, however.

Guest Stars

Listed below are the guest stars that have appeared/performed on the Santaland Express float, alongside the respective songs which they sang during the NBC Parade telecast.

• 1986 - Swayer Brown sang "When Your Heart Goes (Woo, Woo, Woo)"
• 1987 - Pia Zadora sang "Pennies from Heaven" accompanied by Long Island Banjo Society
• 1988 - Peter Allen sang "Ain't I Somethin'"
• 1989 - America Sings! sang "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
• 1990 - Patty Loveless sang "On Down the Line"
• 1991 - Fred Travalena
• 1992 - Dr. Joyce Brothers and Joey Lawrence
• 1993 - Debbie Reynolds sang "Good Morning" accompanied by Eva-Marie Saint, Bob Dorian and Macy's Be-A-Star Kids
• 1994 - Long Island Banjo Society
• 1996 - Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop with the Junior Guilders Chorus sang "Bells in Your Heart"
• 1997 - Liz Callaway sang "Gotta Go See Santa Claus"
• 1998 - Chicago sang "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"
• 1999 - 98 Degrees sang "This Gift"
• 2000 - Rascal Flatts sang "Praying for Daylight"
• 2001 - Jon Secada sang "Percy, the Poor Little Penguin"
• 2002 - Judy Kaye sang "What Good Is Being Cranky When It's Christmastime"
• 2003 - Cast Members from Happy Family
• 2008 - Andy Williams sang "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" accompanied by CAP21 Dancers
• 2009 - Billy Currington sang "People Are Crazy"
• 2010 - Jimmy Fallon and The Roots sang "Do They Know It's Christmas Time?" and "What Christmas Means to Me"
• 2013 - Mannheim Steamroller performed "Good King Wenceslas"
• 2024 - Jimmy Fallon and The Roots sang “Hey Rudy”

Trivia

• Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the Santaland Express was used for holiday events prior to the Parade. The events, featuring that year's Macy's Holiday Ambassador, began with the chosen character riding the Parade's route from 77th Street to Herald Square, stopping outside Macy's where they were given the key to the store. They were promptly escorted inside, where they met guests. Characters that were featured in these events include Lamb Chop (1993), The Cat in the Hat (1995), The Grinch (1997), Bandleader Mickey Mouse (2000), Curious George (2001), and Garfield (2003).
• In October 2010, the float was present at the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Macy’s Parade Studio, which was set to be 72,000-square feet and was to be custom-built for the unique needs of the Studio team. The float would also make an appearance at its grand opening, carrying the more than 40 artists who brought the procession to life every year.
• The number "1858" seen on the Santa Express float is a tribute to the year Macy's was founded.