Sugar Express — Attraction in Clewiston

Back in April of 2022, my mother and I went up to Clewiston as a little getaway for her birthday, the railroad was a new attraction back then after they recently finished restoring Steam Locomotive 148 back in 2020. The locomotive was getting a lot of attention lately on social media and from the locals when it was in operation, so it felt nice going to see her in person and even getting a ride behind her.

The excursion itself was very well planned and organized. The staff were very friendly and informative regarding the history of locomotive 148 and the fleet of coaches she was pulling alongside the history of the railroad itself we were riding on being a historic right of way serving sugar cane fields and local businesses alike. The ride itself was very comfortable and relaxing as we passed by the farmland scenery and Lake Okeechobee, it's not everyday you get to be on a nice train trip hauled by a live Steam Locomotive.

The food options were pretty nicely catered as we were seated in one of the first class dining cars on board, we were also paired up with an open air car and a former presidential rail car which were a blast to walk through, it felt like we were stepping back in time as we got to explore the whole consist guided by the wonderful volunteers on board who share a love for preserving rail travel for many generations to come.

In the end, I'm proud to say that as a rail enthusiast and train lover myself having ridden many trains over the years, this is one of the best experiences I could ever have. As of writing this, they have now expanded their rail excursion program and are raising funds to restore a second locomotive that they acquired recently, so all the money you spend on tickets and merchandise helps keep this railroad and its history alive. I definitely recommend stopping by when you can, we most certainly will return for future excursions when we can and we hope to see their second locomotive...

My grandfather was Stationmaster at Grand Central Station in New York, so naturally, my father loves trains. My family all took a ride on the Sugar Express for his birthday, and everyone had a fantastic experience. They tell you to arrive at least a half an hour early. This is absolutely necessary to have a good time. Take pictures of the train, talk to the conductor. Ticket verification is a breeze, but they keep a schedule and leave on time. They give out free snacks and free water. They have soda, adult beverages, local beers, souvenirs (buttons, pins, hats, shirts, etc) available as well. We were lucky and had beautiful weather where the open air cars were just as comfortable as the climate controlled cars. The staff is super knowledgeable and friendly - willing to answer any question or stop just for a photo. Needless to say, my father had a wonderful birthday, and everyone involved was happy that he suggested that we take this trip down his memory lane together.

Additional notes: The best turns of the track to get a photo of the locomotive in motion is nearest to the start point. My father verified that the sinks (and 98% of everything else) in the onboard restrooms are original. Museum at the turnaround point is small yet worth a visit. The indoor seating is arranged in groups of four where you face each other with knees together (seriously likely to have strager's knees across from you, directly next to yours) so either bring friends or prepare to...

Where do I start? Overall, the trip itself was good. The condition of the cars was so-so. One car smelled of mildew and another smelled of vinyl. Our car, which was last, needed severe cleaning of the seats and refurbishing. There was dirt build up on the arm rests and my husband wouldn't even touch them. The train took us to Clewiston for a "Farmer's Market". What a disappointment. All it was were tents set up where people charged exorbitant prices on their food and wares. The food cost for than a high-end restaurant so we looked for another place to go. The map given did not even come close to where the locations were that they gave us. You could tell that they only set these tents up when the train was about to arrive because when we were boarding the buses they were already packing up. Finding the employees who followed the train and took pictures was our amusement for the two and a half hour ride. We did the murder mystery train in fort Myers which included a five-course meal and costs the same amount to ride this train. If you want to see miles of sugarcane fields, this would be great for you. But for the average individual, it is not worth the money. The only snacks we got were chips and cookies and free water. It was not worth all the hype on...