A Great Train Journey
Part One
NRHS 2023 Annual Convention in Deerfield Beach, Florida
by
Robin Bowers
September 04, 2023
Monday
Chapter Six
Text and Photos by Author
The
author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed
without the author's consent
Comments are appreciated at...yr.mmxx@gmail.com
Sugar Express Steam Excursion
Today started as days
everlastingly have started with the sun rising up from the
Atlantic Ocean here in the deep south. The weather was going to
be a repeat of the past few days, hot and humid but with a
downward trend developing today. But it was going to be a great
day because we are going for a train ride and a special one at
that. We will be riding behind steam locomotive # 148 through
Florida countryside while stopping along the way for a few photo
runbys. After my morning ablution, I went downstairs for
breakfast at the Stag Bar where I was greeted by Howard at the
bar where I took a seat. I had a yen for French toast so I
ordered that and orange juice. The buses were boarding early
today, so right after breakfast, I had to make a bee line to the
loading portal. After the buses left the hotel we were on city
streets and then on the highways to Lake Okeechobee. A couple of
hours later we were in Clewiston were our train awaited. After
we signed the legal forms we were presented with our Special
Service Ticket and made our way through the carriages to pick
our very own seat.
With nearly 200 miles of
track to operate over, the Sugar Express offers many route
options for your riding pleasure. While their trains typically
originate in Clewiston, throughout the year trains board in
Sebring, Lake Placid and elsewhere along their scenic line for
train trips ranging in ride length from one hour to all day
excursions.
This unique railroad, which is owned and
operated by U.S. Sugar's South Central Florida Express, was
built in the early 1900s by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and
Florida East Coast Railway to access the farm communities that
ring the south coast of Lake Okeechobee. Its primary purpose
today is to support the efficient and sustainable transportation
of freight, connecting the region with North America and the
globe.
Shortly after everyone had
found a seat and settled in, our train commence movement,
pulling from the branch line to the main. We did not go far,
stopped and it was then time for the big surprise. When the
conventioneers were making their seat choices, many chose to
be in the direction of travel and since they saw the steam
locomotive and assume it was on the point, going in that
direction. What they missed was the diesel locomotive at the
other end and it was going to be on the point on our way to
Lake Placid. As the train stopped and reversed direction,
there was a mad scramble to change seats but alas their seats
were already occupied. We continued our journey through
Florida's flat fields of sugar cane.
Our country's flag in the wind at the US 27 Highway as we start
our journey.
Views of the Caloosahatchee River.
After about two hours we arrived in Lake Placid for lunch and our
turn-around point.
After leaving the train, the
hungry travelers either went left for the one-block walk to
uptown for a eating place or if Bar-B-Que pork was on your
menu, then you would bear to the right for your pulled pork
sandwich. Now seemed like the perfect time for pulled pork,
beans and coleslaw so I joined queue and in no time, was at the
window placing my order. This was a mom and pop operation that
travels to the customers. Mom takes the money and Pop cooks and
hands out the finish product. After receiving my lunch plate, I
found a table and sat in the shade. We had a rotation of people
coming and going, feasting and leaving. There were several
different conversations while I was there, but one the most
intriguing was why teenage boys are reluctant to take showers.
After my enjoyable lunch, wanted to wander a bit but, not too
far as to miss the train leaving.
Mural next to station and one of several in the city.
Built in 1920, steam
locomotive No. 148 worked for the Florida East Coast Railway for
decades, hauling both passengers and freight. In 1952, she was
acquired by U.S. Sugar, where she hauled sugarcane until the
late 1960s. After retirement, she briefly traveled the country
as an operating attraction before languishing inoperable in
storage for over 40 years.
In 2016, U.S. Sugar C.E.O. Robert H. Buker,
Jr. had a vision to re-acquire No. 148 for overhaul. Restoration
work began in earnest in 2017 and after thousands of hour of
work by U.S. Sugar employees and collaborating restoration
experts, No. 148 was once again returned to service in April
2020, just in time for her 100th birthday.
Caloosahatchee River on our return trip.
Drawbridge in Moore Haven.
View from other side of train.
Trailers used to bring cane from the fields to the railroad.
The Sugar Express operates
on tracks of the South Central Florida Express, U.S. Sugar's
freight railroad. This line is used primarily to transport raw
sugarcane from in fields to the U.S. Sugar mill in Clewiston.
This innovative rail network allows the hardworking crews to
haul more than 1,000 railcars of sugarcane per day in the most
fuel-efficient manner. They only have eight hours from when the
cane is harvested until it must be delivered to the mill -
how's that for prompt service.
Train views from a photo runby at Milepost 942.
Train returning for another runby.
After this last runby, the train returned to Clewiston and the
conventioneers boarded their buses for the return to Deerfield
Beach. As I was leaving the train, a locomotive crewman said: "I
speak your language," as I was wearing my Santa Fe 3751 tee
shirt proclaiming "got steam."
For dinner this evening, I went just downstairs to the Stag Bar
and sat a high top as the dinning room was quite full with fellow
conventioneers. I had the pasta dish which was good but pricey,
but not in the stratosphere price they charged me for one-half
pint of milk: $5.00! So if your coming to visit
this state- Bring plenty of yen.
Thanks for
reading.
Text and Photos by Author, Robin Bowers
The
author retains all rights. No reproductions are
allowed without the author's consent
Comments are appreciated at...
yr.mmxx@gmail.com
