In southern Florida near the shores of Lake Okeechobee, lies a region that's known nationwide as Sugarland, and for reasons larger than life. The small city of Clewiston is home to U.S. Sugar, a massive, privately-owned agricultural corporation that boasts over 200,000 acres of sugar cane fields, endlessly stretching out as far as the eye can see. U.S. Sugar is one of the world's premier producers of refined sugar, and is unique in that it operates the only sugar-hauling railroad in North America, the South Central Florida Express. With over 170 miles of track between Sebring and Fort Pierce, FL, the SCFE is the largest agricultural railroad in the United States, and during harvest season becomes a very busy operation, with train after train of fully loaded cane cars making their way to the enormous mill in Clewiston. In recent years however, the rails of U.S. Sugar have become well known for another unique reason, one that combines the region's deep railroad history with a scenic and relaxing train ride behind a steam locomotive through the beautiful scenery of South Florida, the Sugar Express!
The shining star of these excursions is former Florida East Coast Railroad 4-6-2 Pacific #148, a strikingly beautiful and high stepping locomotive that has plenty of history with U.S. Sugar and various other parts of this region of the Sunshine State. She was built for the Florida East Coast in 1920 by ALCO's Richmond Works, and was often found hauling both passenger and freight trains between Jacksonville and Miami, Florida. Historically, she is very well known for operating on the FEC's famous Overseas Railroad that ran to Key West, FL over a series of long, concrete bridges. The line met its demise in 1935 when the Labor Day Hurricane wiped out much of the right of way. In 1952, #148 and three of her sisters were sold to U.S. Sugar, and they would spend the next 16 years working in the cane fields, pulling heavily loaded trains to the various mills that were located along the system. After being retired from sugar cane duty in 1968, #148 was sold to Sam Freeman, who restored and operated her in tourist service on the Black River & Western Railroad in New Jersey beginning in 1970. While in New Jersey, she also operated excursions on the Morristown & Erie Railroad in 1974, and the following year would doublehead with former Canadian Pacific 4-6-0 #972 on a mainline trip that was a re-creation of the Jersey Central's famed Blue Comet. Over the next several decades, #148 would jump all around the country between various owners in Connecticut, Michigan, and Colorado, but wouldn't get the chance to operate again until 2016. That year, then U.S. Sugar CEO Bob Buker reacquired #148 for use on the new Sugar Express trains, and she was shipped by rail from Alamosa, CO to U.S. Sugar’s shops in Clewiston, where restoration began. During the restoration, she was converted to burn recycled vegetable oil. In 2020, #148 returned to steam for the first time in 43 years, and since then has been busy pulling passengers on the trains of the Sugar Express, and still hauls the occasional cane train from time to time.
In April of 2024, a 2-day photo charter was hosted by the Sugar Express, that featured #148 backdated to her 1940s-era Florida East Coast appearance, the first time she had looked this way in many years. Choreographed by Kelly Lynch of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, the event saw #148 operating on a passenger train the first day, and on a 10-car cane train the second day. Operating on former Atlantic Coast Line trackage, the charter covered a large portion of the SCFE system, running from Clewiston as far as Lake Placid to the west, Miami Locks to the east, and a few scenes on the branch line south to Okeelanta. Very hot but beautiful sunny weather greeted the train on both days, and a first class crew along with a great group of photographers made for the ultimate charter! From early morning to late afternoon, a great variety of locations and scenery were in store, from sweeping curves, to lush fields, to cane loadouts, to wooden trestles. One of the greatest moments was the surprise appearance of a vintage crop duster for several runbys, and the results when with staged with #148 and a 1955 John Deere tractor were simply incredible, and a very rare sight indeed! A night photo session was also staged at the former ACL depot in Lake Placid. Two different whistles were heard on #148, including a Southern Pacific 6-chime on the first day, and a Hanock 3-chime on the second day, the very same whistle used by Norfolk & Western #611 in 1980s and 90s on mainline excursions for the Norfolk Southern Steam Program. It was an unforgettable weekend filled with good times and a stellar performance from #148!
Enjoy!