Elizabeth and I awoke at the Best Western in Clewiston and after another hotel breakfast, we checked Internet then checked out. The temperatues where in the high 30s with the wind blowing just a little. We drove to the U.S. Sugar shops and parked then joined the line to board the train and talked with friends until boarded commenced. We took seats in the Palmdale, managed to get a table to ourselves and we settled in. The train left Clewiston and soon we were on new mileage for both of us. I went to the vestibule for a pair of pictures.
Taking the first big curve to head north out of Clewiston.
Sugar cane fields that has been harvested and those that have not.
A sugar cane loader used to load the cane into railroad cars.
More sugar cane fields.
My most loving wife Elizabeth.
U.S. 4-6-2 Sugar 148 took a few more curves on the railroad.
Another harvested field.
Another sugar cane loader along our route this morning.
A water tower on the way to Moore Haven.
The train crossed the Caloosahatchee Canal into Moore Haven. Elizabeth and I walked into the Georgia 300.
The number plate with builder information and the year it was built, in this case, 1920.
A face only a railfan could love.
U.S. Sugar 148 was watered in Moore Haven. We returned to our table as the engine finished being watered. The train headed west to Palmdale.
We ran by a active sugar cane loader and they were busy.
The train passed many cane fields and canals before the scenery changed.
Two trees with Spanish Moss on them.
Palm trees next made a showing.
Back in the forest.
Florida vegetation along our route.
Off in the distance, a sand and gravel quarry.
Yes, Florida does have hills.
More of that Florida vegetation along our route.
More Spanish Moss along our route.
The train crossed Fisheating Creek. A few minutes later, we pulled into Palmdale siding and all detrained.
Reverse move number one.
Engine photo runby at Palmdale siding.
Georgia 300 at Palmdale siding.
The engine was now back on the east end of the train.
Reverse move number two.
Photo runby number one at Palmdale siding. We reboarded the train for the short trip to Fisheating Creek. The name Fisheating Creek is derived from the Creek Thlothlopopka-hatchee meaning "the creek where fish are eaten." The first known settlement occurred along the banks of Fisheating Creek between 1000 and 500 BC. The early inhabitants, known as the Belle Glade people, began building mounds and other earthworks and subsisted by netting fish and harvesting turtles, snakes and alligators. According to University of Florida archeologist Jerald Milanich, who worked on the area as a student in the 1960s, perforations found on turtle shells indicate turtles were tethered to be eaten as needed. The creek was more than a source of food and water. It was also a canoe highway leading to Lake Okeechobee and its resources to the east and other settlements to the west.
Reverse move number three.
Photo runby number two at Fisheating Creek. Everyone was free to change position as desired to get different views and angles between each photo runby.
Reverse move number four.
Photo runby number three at Fisheating Creek.
Reverse move number five.
Posed pictures at Fisheating Creek.
Reverse move number six.
Photo runby number four at Fisheating Creek.
Reverse move number seven.
Photo runby number five at Fisheating Creek. No photographers were eaten here but we kept an eye out for alligators. However, since it was cool, they were not seen. We reboarded and reversed the train to crossing of the Fisheating Creek Outpost where we unloaded again.
The Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area which was also a campground.
Reverse move number eight.
Photo runby number six at the Fisheating Creek Outpost crossing. Now a vintage Model A Ford joined us for photographs.
Pictures of the Ford Model A and US Sugar 148 at the Fisheating Creek Outpost crossing.
One last picture of the train here.
U.S. Sugar 148 builder's plate. We all reboarded and headed back to the Moore Haven third load-out, where we all detrained.
Reverse move number nine.
Photo runby number seven at the Moore Haven third load-out.
Reverse move number ten.
Photo runby number eight. We all reboarded the train and on the way to our next location everyone enjoyed the barbecued chicken with macaroni and cheese and green beans that the caterer from Moore Haven had prepared. We travelled east across the Caloosahatchee Canal where we were dropped off before the train re-crossed the canal into Moore Haven where the engine was watered.
Elizabeth and I led the photographers up onto the US 27 bridge across the Caloosahatchee Canal. Once they finished watering U.S. Sugar 148, two photo runbys would be performed here.
Photo runby number nine at the Caloosahatchee Canal Highway 27 bridge.
Reverse move number eleven.
Photo runby number ten at the Caloosahatchee Canal Highway 27 bridge.
Our group returning from the US 27 bridge.
U.S. Sugar 148 was waiting for us all to return. Upon our return to the train, chocolate cake and carrot cake were available for dessert and I enjoyed the chocolate cake, while Elizabeth sampled both. We all reboarded and headed to big curve at Shawnee for the last photo runbys of the trip.
Reverse move number twelve.
Photo runby number eleven at the big curve at Shawnee.
Reverse move number thirteen.
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Photo runby number twelve.
The group photo taken by a drone owned by Casey Thomason.
Engine Crew pictures at the big curve at Shawnee.
Trains Magazine Editor and Organizer Jim Wrinn.
Jim Wrinn and Cate Kratville-Wrinn, the team that put this together for us all.
U.S. Sugar 148 builder's plate again. We returned to Clewiston and it was hard to say goodbye to all of our friends but we did. A special thank you to Jim and Cate, Kevin Gilliam, Kelly Lynch and the rest of the U.S. Sugar and engine crew for putting on an excellent two days of trips. It will be one that Elizabeth and I will always remember. After de-training, we went over to the yard office for a few more pictures.
US Sugar GP40-2 504, ex. Helm Leasing 4275, exx. U.S. Rail Partners 516, exx. Helm Leasing 516, nee Boston and Maine 312 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1977.
US Sugar GP40-2 410, ex. EACX {Elmar Tank Line Company} 5837, exx. Norfolk Southern GP38-3 5837, exxx. Norfolk Southern 7015, nee Southern GP50 7015 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1980.
US Sugar GP38-2 407 ex. Union Pacific 1997, exx. Missouri Kansas Texas 341, exxx. Illinois Central Gulf 9517, nee Illinois Central 9517 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1970.
We headed back to Miami, stopping at Jersey Mike's for dinner before we arrived at the Holiday Inn at the airport, where the room finally had a bathtub as well as shower, much to Elizabeth's happiness.
Going Home 1/31/2022We checked out of the hotel and returned to the rental car before we took the free shuttle train to Miami International Airport. Elizabeth had already checked us in for our flight but we had to check our luggage. After that, we went to Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast as there was very little here in the way of places for our morning meal. Once that was done, we went through security and waited for our plane.
Southwest Airlines Flight 2035We boarded this flight which crossed the Everglades National Park before crossing the Gulf of Mexico. We arrived into Houston early and stayed on board for the next segment to Austin, which was through the clouds most of the way.
Southwest Airlines Flight 1786For this flight, Elizabeth sat in front of me so she could have a window seat. The journey was mainly through the clouds until we reached California and I pointed out a few things to Elizabeth before we landed. We called Robin Bowers as we were taxiing to the gate and after we de-planed and retrieved our luggage, Robin arrived at the curb a few minutes later and he drove us home, ending a fabulous trip to Florida.
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