Last updated on December 21st, 2025 at 03:34 pm
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.
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.
Sugar Express
To be honest, I was hesitant to spend $99, the cost of coach on this 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 and a few citrus groves, maybe a lake or two.
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 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 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.
Sugar Express 2026 Schedule
New routes and higher fares are on tap for 2025, although the Lake Placid Limited all-day outing maintains its status as the stalwart of Sugar Express outings.
Lake Placid Limited (Jan. 24, Feb. 21, Apr 25, May 16)
(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.)
Sunset and Suds (Jan. 23, Feb. 20, March 27, April 24, May 15) New
(Diesel locomotive) Two-hour journey through sugar-cane country, departing in the late afternoon from Clewiston. Adults-only. Guests indulge in the new onboard bar offerings, a curated selection of beer, wine, exclusive cocktails, and other beverages available for purchase. Tickets: $65.
Tickets on sale at sugarexpress.com
Special Events
Sugarfest (Mar. 13-14) — Clewiston’s annual hometown festival will feature excursions timed to coincide with the Sugar Festival’s events, music, and food. For details, go to Clewiston Sugar Festival.
Photographer’s Special (Jan. 17-18) — For photographers, videographers. Sugar Express steam locomotive No. 148 will appear in its authentic 1950s–60s United States Sugar paint scheme, and staged historic settings and sequences. Two-day event: $675, not including lodging.
Private charters are also available. Go to sugarexpress.com for details.
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
- November 29 & 30 – From Clewiston
- December 7 – From Sebring
- December 13 & 14 – From Clewiston
- December 19–21 – From Sebring
‘Toys 4 Tots’ Train — December 6, 2025
On December 6, 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 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. Details.
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.
