CLEWISTON -- With U.S. Sugar’s 92nd annual sugarcane harvest set to begin this fall, Sugar Express, South Central Florida’s newest tourist attraction, has announced several new events with historic steam locomotive No. 148. Scheduled for October and January, these excursions will provide guests and railroad enthusiasts a variety of opportunities to experience train rides on U.S. Sugar’s railroad with both steam and diesel locomotives.

On Oct. 1, steam locomotive 148 will pull the Start of Harvest train for the general public in the Clewiston region, and later operate the Lake Placid Limited, a day-long outing to Lake Placid, Florida with a two-hour layover in town.

“Last year Sugar Express welcomed a record number of passengers to Clewiston, where they were treated to scenic rides through our farmlands while learning more about agriculture throughout South Florida,” said Scott Ogle, Operations Manager for Sugar Express. “We are looking forward to building on our success and hosting even more people on America’s Sweetest Railroad in the coming year.”

In January, a rare opportunity to tour the entire South Central Florida Express (SCFE) railroad will mark the first public passenger train of 2023 for Sugar Express. This multi-trip, three-day event will operate on Saturday, Jan. 21, Sunday, Jan. 22, and Monday. Jan. 23 the 23rd. Trips will feature day-long train rides and many outstanding photo opportunities.

“Events like these draw passengers from around the world, and these train experiences provide us a unique opportunity to welcome guests who otherwise may not visit South Central Florida,” continued Ogle. “These seasonal trains will cover nearly every mile of our line while showcasing our agricultural community, and we look forward to announcing more events in the near future.”

In addition to the railroad’s vintage dining car, Palmdale and open-air car Miami Locks, train excursions this year also will feature traditional coach seating in recently restored historic railcars.

Additional dates and events are under consideration. All tickets will be sold online at sugarexpress.com.