CLEWISTON, FL – U.S. Sugar will welcome thousands of visitors to South Central Florida for an exciting schedule of vintage passenger train excursions and community events aboard the Sugar Express between October and January.
This season, offerings will include family-friendly train rides between Clewiston and Moore Haven, all-day tourist excursions alternating between Lake Placid and Clewiston, holiday trains operating out of Sebring, Lake Placid, and Clewiston, plus a rare mileage tour of the entire South Central Florida Express railroad in January. Click here to get notified when ticket sales begin.
A new offering, the Clewiston Comet, will operate south of Lake Placid for the Market on Bond Street in Clewiston on Saturday, November 11th. Group charters and bus tours for both these events and future trips in 2024 can also be scheduled at sugarexpress.com/group-tours
Ticket sales for December’s Santa Express begin on September 5th, and all other event sales start on September 13th at sugarexpress.com at 6:00 PM Eastern. All trips are roundtrips, trip itineraries, amenities, and schedules will vary based on the event. This information will be reflected and finalized on each respective ticketing page. Details, dates, and times are subject to change.
In addition to attracting visitors to the region, Sugar Express and its rail heritage contractor FMW Solutions have also created two new jobs in Clewiston. These positions include a Customer Experience and Event Manager to oversee guest services and a Passenger Rail Mechanic to support the growing needs of the heritage railroad operation. Interested applicants can apply at fmwsolutions.com/job-postings.
“Expanding the Sugar Express underscores our commitment to investing in South Central Florida’s communities. Our events offer residents new amenities and attractions, and invite visitors and tourists who otherwise might pass the region by,” stated Scott Ogle, Superintendent of Sugar Express. “We’re excited to be at a point where the operation can now create two new jobs in the community and hope that we can bring more talent to the area in the future.”
THE LAKE PLACID LIMITED – October 14th, October 28th, November 25th, 2023 and January 27th, 2024
Departing Clewiston for Lake Placid in the morning, guests will enjoy a high-stepping passenger train ride behind Sugar Express steam locomotive No. 148 as it slips through the sugarcane fields and arrives for a two-hour layover in the historic town of Lake Placid, Florida. Following lunch and a tour on their own, guests will return to Clewiston behind a Sugar Express diesel locomotive and arrive in the early evening. First-class tickets are $148 and deluxe coach tickets are $99.00.
MOORE HAVEN METEOR – October 15th, October 29th, November 26th, 2023
Two-hour train rides with No. 148 between Clewiston and Moore Haven. Tickets are $48.00 per person. Children three and under ride free.
CLEWISTON COMET – November 11th, 2023, January 13th, 2024
No. 148 will carry passengers from Lake Placid to Clewiston for a layover at the beloved Market on Bond Street featuring local farmers, fresh food, entertainment, and welcoming neighbors in downtown Clewiston. First-class tickets are $148 and deluxe coach tickets are $99.00.
TOYS FOR TOTS TRAIN – December 7th, 2023
A partnership with Toys for Tots, this steam–powered holiday train will deliver gifts throughout the Glades Communities to children and families in need. Interested parents can sign up to receive toys later in December directly from the program at: toysfortots.org.
SANTA EXPRESS – December 2nd-3rd (Sebring), December 8th-10th (Lake Placid), December 15th-19th (Clewiston)
Joyful holiday trains will offer families a 1.5-hour trip through the countryside aboard a decorated, historic passenger train. Each ride features Sugar Express steam locomotive No. 148, a visit with Santa Claus, cookies, refreshments, and a commemorative ornament.
Tickets are $50.00 per guest ages 15 and up and $40.00 per child ages 4 – 14, and children 3 years of age and under ride free.
HIGHLAND COUNTY CRESCENT – January 14th, 2024
Enjoy a two-hour passenger train ride from Sebring, Florida through the orange groves and along the shores of Lake Placid for a roundtrip to and from the sugarcane loading station site at Childs, Florida. Tickets are $48.00 plus tax. Children three and under who do not occupy a seat ride free.
RARE MILEAGE TRAIN – January 20th – January 22nd, 2024
This multi-trip, three-day event will feature steam locomotive no. 148 on each day. Trips will feature day-long train rides and many outstanding photo opportunities. Three-day individual tickets are $550 and first-class table packages for a quartet of guests are $2200.
2023 SCHEDULE
Sat, Oct 14 – Lake Placid Limited
Sun, Oct 15 – Moore Haven Meteor
Sat, Oct 28 – Lake Placid Limited
Sun, Oct 29 – Moore Haven Meteor
Sat, Nov 11 – Clewiston Comet
Sun, Nov 12 – Highlands County Crescent
Sat, Nov 25 – Lake Placid Limited
Sun, Nov 26 – Moore Haven Meteor
Sat, Dec 2 – Sebring Santa Express
Sun, Dec 3 – Sebring Santa Express
Thu, Dec 7 – Toys for Tots
Fri, Dec 8 – Lake Placid Santa Express
Sat, Dec 9 – Lake Placid Santa Express
Sun, Dec 10 – Lake Placid Santa Express
Fri, Dec 15 – Clewiston Santa Express
Sat, Dec 16 – Clewiston Santa Express
Sun, Dec 17 – Clewiston Santa Express
Mon, Dec 18 – Clewiston Santa Express
Tue, Dec 19 – Clewiston Santa Express
2024 SCHEDULE
Sat, Jan 13 – Clewiston Comet
Sat, Jan 20 – Rare Mileage Special
Sun, Jan 21 – Rare Mileage Special
Mon, Jan 22 – Rare Mileage Special
Sat, Jan 27 – Lake Placid Limited
About U.S. Sugar and Sugar Express
U.S. Sugar is the only sugarcane farming company in the continental United States that transports all of its cane to a sugar factory by railroad. The mission of the Sugar Express is to provide a safe and educational means to learn about transportation history, agriculture, and U.S. Sugar. It will use historic steam locomotive No. 148 to take visitors on trips through the lush croplands cultivated by the nearly 2,500 hardworking employees of U.S. Sugar.
