Coal smoke, clacking rails, and thousands of acres of sugarcane stretching to the horizon: that’s the scene waiting just outside Lake Okeechobee’s southern shore. Clewiston’s Sugar Express isn’t a theme park recreation of an old-timey train, it’s the real deal, a fully restored 1920 steam locomotive that once hauled passengers along the Florida Keys’ Overseas Railroad before spending decades working U.S. Sugar’s cane fields.
Today that same engine, No. 148, pulls vintage rail cars through the working farmland that keeps this corner of Florida running. It’s part history lesson, part scenic joyride, and part genuine agricultural tour, giving riders a rare look at how sugarcane actually gets from field to refinery while rolling past landscapes most tourists never see.
What Makes the Ride Worth Taking
The signature outing is the Lake Placid Limited, a full-day excursion that runs north out of Clewiston behind a diesel engine before No. 148 takes over for the steam-powered return leg. It’s a roughly seven-hour round trip that includes a stop in Lake Placid, where the old railroad depot now serves as the town’s historical society museum, giving you a built-in reason to stretch your legs and explore a little local history along the way.
For a shorter taste of the experience, keep an eye out for the Sunset & Suds excursion, a two-hour evening ride aimed at the 21-and-up crowd, timed so the golden hour light hits the cane fields just right. Both trips lean into the same appeal: you’re not just watching scenery go by, you’re moving through acres of actual sugarcane, and during harvest season the fields are genuinely something to see.
Locomotive No. 148 itself is a story worth knowing before you board. Built in 1920 for the Florida East Coast Railway, it ran passenger and freight service along the Overseas Railroad to Key West until the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane wrecked that line for good. U.S. Sugar picked it up afterward, ran it through the early 1960s, then retired it in favor of diesel power. It sat dormant for decades before a full restoration brought it back to life in 2020, right around its 100th birthday, a genuinely impressive comeback for a piece of Florida railroad history.
Beyond the standard excursions, Sugar Express also offers charter bookings for weddings and corporate events, letting groups take over a vintage rail car for something a little more private and memorable than your average venue rental.
Atmosphere & Décor
The rolling stock is where this experience really sets itself apart. Cars like the 1939 Bay Biscayne observation car, the 1952 Palmdale dining car from the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the 1953 Lake Okeechobee coach originally built for Union Pacific’s City of Los Angeles streamliner are all lovingly restored relics from the golden age of American rail travel, each with its own pedigree and personality.
Riders who choose the open-air car get unobstructed, wraparound views of the cane fields, which is the move if photos and fresh air are the priority. The enclosed vintage coaches, on the other hand, offer a cozier, more nostalgic ride with period-appropriate charm, comfortable for a long day out when the Florida sun gets intense. Either way, the mix of rumbling steel, wooden trim, and wide-open agricultural scenery gives the whole outing an unmistakably old-Florida feel that’s hard to manufacture anywhere else.
Other Considerations
How much does it cost? The Lake Placid Limited starts from $85 per person for the full-day excursion, while the shorter Sunset & Suds ride starts from $65.
Is this a good trip for kids? The Lake Placid Limited is open to all ages and works well as a family outing, especially for anyone with a soft spot for trains or Florida history. Sunset & Suds, however, is restricted to riders 21 and up.
When’s the best time to visit? Ride during sugarcane harvest season, which runs through the fall and winter months, when the fields along the route are at their most dramatic and active.
Are there special events tied to the train? Yes, Sugar Express has partnered with the Clewiston Sugar Festival in past seasons, adding festival-themed rides to the regular schedule, so it’s worth checking the current calendar before you plan a visit.
Sugar Express
📍 900 W C Owen Ave, Clewiston, FL 33440
Website: https://sugarexpress.com
