Updated October 29, 2026 by Bob Rountree
The Sugar Express and Santa Express are fun rides aboard vintage passenger cars pulled behind steam-puffing ‘No. 148’, a historic locomotive built in 1920 that once carried the sugar cane harvest to the refineries of Clewiston-based U.S. Sugar.
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.
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, Florida, with a two-hour layover for lunch.
Sugar Express
To be honest, I was hesitant to spend $99, the cost of coach on our trip. There are no Florida mountains in full fall glory to see, no cliffs, canyons or scenic valleys. Really, there’s not much more to see than endless fields of sugar cane, a bumpy hill or two, and a few citrus groves, and a couple of modest lakes.
The trip was fun, actually. Maybe not my money’s worth, but I’m glad I went. 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 passing view of Lake Placid. We did not see any of Lake Placid’s famous fields of caladiums.
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 was available 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 leaned out to capture Old No. 148 as it steamed around curves.
The steam locomotive was only used in one direction, a diesel on the return trip.
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 1/2-hour layover allowed enough time to walk around and view the community’s wall murals, visit the tiny American Clown Museum near the tracks and enjoy lunch at one of 10 nearby eateries.
We ate at Morty and Edna’s Craft Kitchen, home of “The Notorious B.L.T.”
We often visit the area while, so Morty and Edna’s was a luncheon stop we’ve enjoyed many times since.
Sugar Express 2026-27 Schedule
New routes and higher fares are on tap for the coming year, although the Lake Placid Limited all-day outing maintains its status as the stalwart of Sugar Express outings.
Lake Placid Limited (Nov. 14, Jan. 23, Feb. 27, Mar. 27, Apr. 24, May 15, May 29)
(Steam locomotive) The Lake Placid Limited is an all-day outing, with a roundtrip excursion between Clewiston and Lake Placid, and includes a 2.5-hour layover for lunch, shopping, and self-guided tours. Trains depart Clewiston at 10 AM. Tickets: $95 – $212. (Table seating available in First-Class car.)
Tickets on sale at sugarexpress.com
Santa Express
Decorated holiday trains with Santa on board departing from Sebring, Clewiston and Lake Placid for two-hour excursions through the countryside. Base fare in 2025 is $60. First-class tables (4-tops) will be available. Seats in first-class lounge cars cost more.
Santa Express
- Nov 28 – Depart Clewiston 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm (Steam)
- Nov 29 –Depart Clewiston, 1 pm, 4 pm (Diesel)
- Dec. 6 — Depart Sebring, 10, 1 pm, 4 pm (Steam)
- Dec 11 — Depart Clewiston 1 pm, 4 pm (Diesel)
- Dec. 12 — Depart Clewiston 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm (Steam)
- Dec. 13 – Depart Clewiston 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm (Diesel)
- Dec 18 – Depart Sebring 10 am, 1 pm 4 pm (Diesel)
- Dec. 19 — Depart Sebring 10 am, 1 pm 4 pm (Diesel)
- Dec. 20 — Deport Sebring 10 am, 1 pm 4 pm (Diesel)
- Dec. 22 — Depart Clewiston 10 am, 1 pm 4 pm (Diesel)
- Dec. 23 — Depart Clewiston 1 pm, 4 pm (Diesel)
Tickets: $60-$105 per person; Family, group packages available. From Clewiston. From Sebring.
Santa Express ‘Toys 4 Tots’ Train — Saturday, December 5, 2026
Santa Express delivers gifts for Toys for Tots at four cities in its South-Central Florida service area. There is no passage or tickets available 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. Last year, in partnership with Toys for Tots and the U.S. Marines, the people of U.S. Sugar delivered more than 4,000 toys benefitting children in Western Palm Beach, Hendry, Glades, Martin, and Highlands Counties.
2027 Special Event Trains
- Moore Haven Meteor, New Year’s Rum Train. Jan. 2 @ 4 p.m. Depart Clewiston (Steam)
- Archbold Arrow, Jan. 16, 10 am. Depart Clewiston-Archbold & return (Diesel)
- Valentine’s Brunch Train — Feb. 13, 11 am Clewiston-Palmdale, 2.5 hour return (Diesel)
- Ice Cream Train (Feb. 28 @ 1 pm, Apr. 10 @ 5 pm). Clewiston (Diesel)
- Sugar Fest Spritzer & Sugar Fest Experience (Mar. 12-13) — Excursions timed to coincide with the Sugar Festival’s events, music, and food in Clewiston. For details, go to Clewiston Sugar Festival. (Diesel)
- Rum Train — TBD, Apr. 10 @ 5 pm (Diesel)
- Sunday Brunch Train (May 16) Depart Clewiston to Palmdale, 2-1/2 hour return (Diesel)
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 refineries within eight hours of harvest, U.S. Sugar operates a truck fleet and rail network to haul the cane from far-flung fields to Clewiston.
Old 148 was first put to work hauling sugar cane in 1952 after 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. Nine 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.
Tickets are on sale now! For details, go to sugarexpress.com.
