Most residents know the rich history of agriculture in western Palm Beach County, often referred to as the source of the nation’s winter food supply. But few know about how the crops and other food products reach a myriad of destinations across America.

Railroads have shouldered most of the load in tapping this fertile growing area. It began with the construction of a Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway branch line from Maytown (near New Smyrna Beach) to Pahokee, Belle Glade, South Bay and Lake Harbor where it connected with the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) railroad in 1929. The line’s lengthy connection to Maytown was replaced with a shortened connection to Fort Pierce in 1947 that still is used today.

U.S. Sugar restored this former Florida East Coast Railway engine and operates excursions on its extensive rail network, such as this Santa Express …

Each winter, FEC steam engines moved hundreds of railcars filled with produce on their way to various parts of the nation. In 1948, the steam engines were replaced with a small roster of diesel locomotives. In a unique tribute to the area, one of the locomotives was stenciled with the name “Belle Glade” on one side and “Pahokee” on the other!

The FEC, CSX, and South Central Florida Express continue to serve the area through an extensive rail network that reaches destinations nationwide. The Glades region is the epicenter of agricultural production – primarily sugar cane and 30 types of vegetables – with 500,000 acres annually harvested. It is the home of state-of-the-art food processing and packing, sugar milling and refining, manufacturing, distribution, and operations centers.

With collaborative efforts by CareerSource Palm Beach County, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County and the Lake Okeechobee Regional Economic alliance (LORE), the area’s economy is becoming more diversified. Accordingly, the region’s railroads are handling aggregates, building products, metals, and more in addition to agricultural commodities.

Interestingly, the steam engines that labored for so many years in the area continue to make history. One of these engines used on the line was reacquired by U.S. Sugar for restoration and now operates seasonal passenger excursions on the sugar grower’s extensive railroad network. The company later acquired a second engine, used by the ACL and on display at the former Jacksonville Union Station since 1960, for restoration to join its sister locomotive in excursion service.

Railroads could one day play an even greater role in increasing employment and economic development in the area with a potential Inland Logistics Center (ILC).

In recent years, studies and discussions have focused on a proposed 850-acre ILC for materials distribution, warehousing, assembly and light manufacturing in the Glades region. The inland location could ease congestion along coastal highways by moving cargo onto rail lines and stimulate the economy by providing jobs and developing a huge tract of rural land. The project would be within 100 miles of three seaports, four international airports and three railroads with an abundance of undeveloped land – all assets that would help attract even more commerce. However, well before any possible groundbreaking, important questions would need to be addressed including rail service expansion to accommodate inland cargo, environmental impacts, zoning, and project funding sources.

It may be possible that, one day, the area’s fertile ground known for supplying much of the nation’s food supply could see historic growth in construction, transportation, commerce, manufacturing, and distribution with an ILC. Indeed, the Glades communities are on track for a bright future!