Tour Florida's Sweetest Ride

Learn About Our Passenger Train

The passenger train of Sugar Express is comprised of historic cars from 1911 through the mid-1950s. Our train is climate controlled and features on board restrooms. Learn more about our restoration work and tour our train on the page below.

United States Sugar Corporation Steam Locomotive No. 148

No. 148 was manufactured in April 1920 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Richmond, Virginia, for use by the Florida East Coast Railway.

The FEC operated the famous “Overseas Railroad,” a 128-mile extension that it built between 1905 and 1912 to connect Miami to Key West. This route was home to passenger and freight operations and No. 148 hauled trains across this line. The route was only in service until 1935, when the Labor Day Hurricane partially destroyed many of the long viaducts between the island chain. In the 1930s, U.S. Sugar purchased sister FEC steam engines Nos. 98, 113, and 153 to haul the sugarcane from the harvest field to their processing plant. Engine No. 148 continued its service for FEC until 1952, when it too was sold to U.S. Sugar.

A thoroughly modern operation even at the time, U.S. Sugar relied upon the rail system to efficiently transport raw materials as well as to ship out finished products.

U.S. Sugar operated its fleet of steam locomotives into the early 1960s, at which point they were replaced by more efficient diesel-electric locomotives. After many decades out of service, it was restored to service in 2020 on its 100th anniversary.

FIRST CLASS – Tavern Lounge Observation Car No. 6607
“Bay Biscayne”

Bay Biscayne is one of our two first-class cars. Bay Biscayne was built in 1939 by the Budd Company for the Florida East Coast Railway. It was part of FEC’s equipment contribution to the New York to Miami Champion train introduced by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in late 1939. Inside this prestigious lounge/observation car, you will discover the eye-catching 1940s style-serving counter in our front lounge area.

Just a few steps away, the elegant observation room is equipped with relaxing lounge seating and numerous windows for passenger viewing. In this charming car, you will be able to witness the brilliant agricultural landscapes of South Central Florida in a luxurious style. The car is privately owned and leased to Sugar Express.

FIRST CLASS – Table Car No. 7137
“PALMDALE”

The Palmdale is our first class dining car. Passengers riding with a first class dining car ticket may enjoy complimentary snacks, appetizers, and beverages. From time to time, full-meal service may be offered aboard this car, but amenities will vary based on the event. Be sure to review ticketing pages for details.

Originally built as William Penn, this car one of 16 Budd cars ordered by the Pennsylvania Railroad (“PRR”) in 1952 (Budd T42-04064, PRR PP85 – class). While only 16 parlor-lounge cars were built, No. 7137 was actually a part of a much larger, 64-car order. This 64-car order was for the updated, and newly streamlined, Congressional & Senator train sets (traveling between New York City – Philadelphia, PA – Washington, DC).

The Congressional & Senator trains afforded passengers, business, and political figures a 3.5 hour trip form the Northeast to the Capitol. Following the glory days of passenger rail travel, the PRR retired the lounge cars from regular, named-train, service in late 1960. In an effort to restructure the passenger operations, many cars, including 7137 were reconfigured to provide the public more appealing accommodations. As such, 7137 became galley-lounge Anthony Wayne. In 1971, Amtrak took ownership of national passenger rail travel where lounge 7137 (Amtrak 3322) operated until being sold into private ownership in 1992.

Today, the car retains its original PRR number (7137) and is named the PALMDALE in honor of the local area that the car currently passes through.

Deluxe Coach No. 1002

“LAKE OKEECHOBEE”

Deluxe Coach No. 1002 is one of our very own passenger cars, restored right here in Clewiston. It is a spacious car with walk-over seats that allow guests to orient their seats in the direction of the train.

1002 one of 38 cars ordered by the Union Pacific (“UP”) in 1953. These cars were luxurious, 44-seat coaches built by American Car and Foundry (“ACF”) as ACF lot 3812 – ordered in May 1951, delivered to the UP in November of 1953. Coach #1002 was used on one of the most famous UP trains, the City of Los Angeles. The City of Los Angeles ran from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California affording passengers fast (40 hour), luxurious service to the West. Following the glory days of passenger rail travel, UP retired the coaches from regular service in October 1968. Early in 1969, the Great Northern (“GN”) purchased eight of the retired cars for service on local train operations and renumbered the cars to the 1000-series. Of those eight GN – purchased cars, five survived to become commuter cars on New Jersey Transit (formerly named the Central Railroad of New Jersey).

Today, the car retains its GN number (1002) and is named the Lake Okeechobee in honor of the local area that the car currently passes through.

DELUXE COACH No. 664 & 843

843 was built in 1958 by Pullman Standard as one of their Carbon Steel Skeleton, Stainless steel outside cars. The car was delivered to Southern as an empty shell with Southern’s Hayne Shops constructing the car into a 52-seat coach. The car was in passenger service with the Southern up until the end in 1979, but its ownership and passenger use on the Southern continued when it became one of the dedicated coaches for Southern and later Norfolk Southern’s steam excursion program.

In 1993, Norfolk Southern rebuilt 843 and it was painted Tuscan Red to match their office car fleet. In 1994, the railroad ended its excursion program and sold 843 to the New York and Susquehanna Railroad. The car is privately owned and leased to Sugar Express.

DELUXE COACH
SOUTHERN RAILWAY NO. 829

No. 829 is a 52-seat, 85-foot long, 130,000 lb. deluxe coach built for Southern Railway by the Edward G. Budd Company. The coach entered service in October 1949. It was one of 19 cars ordered to replace older cars on The Southerner (Atlanta to Washington), and The Tennessean (Washington to Memphis, via Knoxville). The new cars were also a daily part of the consist on The Royal Palm, which made many stops at East Tennessee towns like Oneida, Oakdale and Rockwood, on its run from Chicago to Jacksonville and Miami.

The Royal Palm traversed Southern subsidiary road, Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway (CNO&TP), which is now a major artery of Norfolk Southern Railroad. After The Royal Palm was discontinued in 1970 and The Southerner and The Crescent (New York to New Orleans) were combined, 829 and her sisters became regulars on The Southern Crescent until February of 1979 when Southern finally turned its passenger service over to Amtrak, which ran the car until 1982. This car is privately owned and leased to Sugar Express.

Open Air Car No. 3674
“MIAMI LOCKS”

Miami Locks is our popular Open Air Car. This car features four large gated doorways for guests to enjoy the sights and sounds of steam railroading and watch the countryside. Souvenirs and other items are often available for sale here.

This car was one of 25 baggage / Railway Post Office (“RPO”) cars built by American Car and Foundry (ACF Lot#04-4269). The 3674 was ordered in November 1953 and delivered between January and April 1955 as a part of the streamlined El Capitan, Chief, and Super Chief trains of the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe (“ATSF”).

After a long career on the ATSF, the car was retired to Amtrak service in 1971. The car operated in successful Amtrak service until being stored at the Amtrak Beech Grove shops in 2007. It was acquired by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, sold to Nashville Steam Preservation Society, and is leased to Sugar Express.

Today, the car retains its original ATSF number (3674) and is named the Miami Locks in honor of the local area that the car currently passes through.

Pullman Car No. 7505
“Clewiston”

Pullman Car No. 7505 Clewiston was delivered by the Pullman Company in April 1911 to the Pennsylvania Railroad (“PRR”) (PRR S70 – class, then Z74R). The PRR, like many other large railroads, required their managers to travel to division points, local areas, or major terminals to resolve issues, conduct business, and meet with railroad clients.

PRR’s modus operandi was to provide their current managers with the newest, most opulent cars. Thus when the first steel cars were built, all of the higher managers got the new cars and lesser managers got the wooden hand-me-downs. There were a few other rounds of new cars, and the same procedure ensued. This meant a car’s name changed a few times in its lifetime. As such, the Martin Clement was formally named Maryland in 1929 and assigned to the General Manager – Eastern Region, based in Philadelphia, PA.

From 1929 to 1960 the car migrated from general managers to superintendents to area managers, etc. Eventually, in 1960, the car was retired to Maintenance of Way (MoW) service. Finally, in 1990 the car entered private ownership and was restored by James H. Clement – son of Martin Clement – and donated to the Galveston Railroad Museum.

Today, the car is named Clewiston to honor the town that made U.S. Sugar possible. It is currently undergoing mechanical and interior work and it is expected to enter service in October 2024.