Editor's Note: This story was written prior to both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. For updates on Hurricane Milton, see Hurricane Milton Live Updates
The Sugar Express is a fun ride aboard vintage passenger cars behind steam-puffing ‘No. 148’, a historic locomotive built in 1920 that once carted sugar cane out of the cane fields to refineries near Clewiston.
The excursions are sponsored by Clewiston-based U.S. Sugar Company, the nation’s largest sugar producer.
The full season for the Sugar Express runs from October until Spring to multiple destination with a seasonal nod to the holidays aboard the Santa Express.
Last November, I rode the Lake Placid Limited, an all-day adventure departing U.S. Sugar’s railroad yards in Clewiston to the historic train station in Lake Placid (FL) with a two-hour layover for lunch.
The Lake Placid Limited — Oct. 19, 2024
To be honest, I was hesitant to spend $99, the cost of coach. There are no Florida mountains in full fall glory to see, no cliff-hanging canyons or scenic valleys. Really, there’s not much more to see than endless fields of sugar cane and a few citrus orchards.
The trip was fun, actually. Maybe not my money’s worth, but I’m glad I went once. I like riding trains, and I can’t recall the last time I was behind the chug-chug-chug of a whistling steam locomotive.
There was, as expected, fields of sugar cane, an occasional cattle ranch, an orange grove or two, two river crossings, rural back yards and a glancing view of Lake Placid. We did not pass Lake Placid’s famous caladium farms.
The train was clean and the seats comfortable, and the ride through cane country was smooth. Rest rooms were comfortable and clean, though not spacious enough to allow persons with disabilities. The passenger cars are vintage, as the organizers explained in advance, dating to a time when little thought was given to such accessibility.
The train’s crew was polite and accommodating, answering questions about the train and the cane fields when asked. Complimentary muffins were served on the way out; chips and cookies on the way back; bottled water throughout the trip.
Passengers were free to roam through the cars, and the “open-air” baggage car with its open doors was popular, especially for photographers who lean out to capture No. 148 as it steamed around curves.
The steam locomotive was only used in one direction, a diesel in the other. As explained in the promotional materials, there were no turnarounds at our destination.
As for destinations, Lake Placid (population 2,400) is a great choice.
The historic train depot is in the center of town, and the 2.5-hour layover allowed enough time to walk around and view the community’s wall murals, visit the tiny American Clown Museum across the tracks and enjoy lunch at one of 10 nearby eateries.
We enjoyed lunch at Morty and Edna’s Craft Kitchen, home of “The Notorious B.L.T.” We often visit the area while camping at Highland Hammocks State Park.
Read more: Lake Placid charms with clowns & caladiums, good eatin’ & great yarns
Archbold Arrow — Oct. 20, 2024
A four-hour round trip to the Archbold Biological Station, including a two-hour tour of the field station lying in the headwaters of the Florida Everglades along the east side of the Lake Wales Ridge. Archbold scientists study rare species, some of which are found only in this region. Fare: $124-$200. For details and reservations, go to sugarexpress.ticketspice.com
Clewiston Comet – Nov. 4, 2024
The Clewiston Comet originates in Lake Placid and carries passengers to Clewiston and back with a two-hour layover at the Market on Bond Street in Clewiston, featuring local farmers, fresh food, entertainment in downtown Clewiston. Total time on the train is about six hours. Fare: $99-$148. For reservations, go to sugarexpress.ticketspice.com
Highlands County Crescent – Nov. 10, 2024
Enjoy a two-hour passenger train ride from Sebring through the orange groves and along the shores of Lake Placid for a roundtrip to and from the sugar-cane loading station site at Childs, Florida. Fare: $48. For details and reservations, go to sugarexpress.ticketspice.com
Santa Express — Nov. 30 – Dec. 22, 2024
Editors Note: Santa Express is popular, so book early if you plan to go. Click on the links below for details and reservations for each trip.
Decorated holiday trains with Santa on board departing from Sebring, Clewiston and Lake Placid for two-hour excursions through the countryside. Base fare is $50 for adults and $40 for children ages 4-14. First-class tables (4-tops) are available for $250. Seats in the first-class lounge cars are $85.
- Saturday, November 30 – Sebring Santa Express (Diesel Only)
- Sunday, December 1 – Sebring Santa Express (Diesel Only)
- Saturday, December 7 – Sebring Santa Express
- Sunday, December 8 – Sebring Santa Express
- Saturday, December 14 – Clewiston Santa Express
- Sunday, December 15 – Clewiston Santa Express
- Friday, December 20 – Lake Placid Santa Express
- Saturday, December 21 – Lake Placid Santa Express
- Sunday, December 22 – Lake Placid Santa Express
‘Toys 4 Tots’ Train — December 12, 2024
On one weekend in December, the Santa Express delivers gifts for Toys for Tots at four cities in its South-Central Florida service area. There is no passage or tickets sold for this special trip, but there will be plenty of excitement for kids who line the tracks along the way. Santa and his elves will be aboard the train, waving to children along the route, and the elves will distribute gifts to children at stops in Belle Glade, Clewiston, Moore Haven and Lake Placid. Details.
Editors Note: The 2025 schedule for Sugar Express has not been announced.
About U.S. Sugar Company
Old ‘No. 148’ is owned and operated by U.S. Sugar Company, the largest producer of sugar cane in the nation.
The Clewiston-based firm owns 230,000 acres in the Glades Agricultural Area of Palm Beach, Hendry and Glades counties, where more than 700,000 tons of sugar cane are harvested each year, according to Wikipedia.
In order to transport the sugar cane to processing within eight hours of harvest, U.S. Sugar operates a truck fleet and rail network to haul the cane from far-flung fields to the company’s refinery in Clewiston.
Old 148 was first put to work hauling sugar cane in 1952 after faithfully serving the Florida East Coast Railroad on freight and passenger routes for almost thirty years.
Replaced by diesel locomotives in the 1960s, Old 148 was retired, worn out and left to die in storage. Seven years ago, U.S. Sugar’s CEO ordered it out of mothballs for restoration and its new life in public relations.
Aside from sugar cane, U.S. Sugar also produces sweet corn and oranges.
Bob Rountree is a beach bum and camper who has explored Florida for decades. Bob and his wife Kathy live in South Florida and roam the Sunshine State in their RV with kayaks and bicycles on board. A retired news editor for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Bob co-founded FloridaRambler.com with fellow journalist Bonnie Gross in 2010.