Steam & Excursion > AAPRCO Florida Steam Excursion

AAPRCO is pleased to announce the rarest of rare mileage rail trips! 

The 2022 Sugarland Limited will traverse south central Florida's lush, subtropical landscape, journeying through sugarcane fields and around the banks of Lake Okeechobee. This once-in-a-lifetime special train will operate in coordination with the U.S. Sugar Corporation, South Central Florida Express Railroad (SCFE), Amtrak, and FMW Solutions. While on the SCFE, power will be supplied by the Sugar Express, EX Florida East Coast (FEC) 4-6-2 steam locomotive #148.  The SCFE operates more than 150 miles of mainline, with the western portion of the network being primarily the former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the eastern side consisting of the former FEC Railway Kissimmee Valley Branch. Open platform riding and vestibule open windows will be allowed on the SCFE. The last passenger train to operate the entire portion of ACL line was in the early 1950’s, and the last passenger train to operate on the FEC Kissimmee Valley Branch was in 1948. Our trip will cover as much of this railroad as possible. 

For information on cars with space available,visit the 'Travel Opportunities' section of AAPRCO's website at www.aaprco.com. Sugarland LimitedSchedule 

Friday, April 22
Cars arrive in Miami in regular Amtrak service. 

Saturday, April 23The train will depart Miami as an Amtrak special train and travel north on the former Seaboard Air Line Railroad to Sebring. We will be switched onto the SCFE Railroad where steam locomotive #148 will couple onto the consist. The train will then continue south to Lake Placid, where a luncheon reception is planned at the 1927 ACL depot. We will then continue south through the communities of Venus, Palmdale, and Moore Haven along the west side of Lake Okeechobee. The train will leave the Highlands of Florida and travel through the heart of the sugar cane fields where 10 percent of the U.S. sugarcane is grown. We will arrive in Clewiston, where we will tie down overnight. 

Sunday, April 24
The train will depart Clewiston in the morning powered by steam Locomotive #148 and travel south east past the U.S. Sugar Mill and back into the agricultural heart of Florida passing through sugar cane fields. At Lake Harbor, we cross the Miami Canal and enter the former FEC K line branch quickly passing through the community of South Bay. The train will turn north and pass through the communities of Belle Glade, Pahokee, and Canal Point on the east side of Lake Okeechobee. At Port Mayaca, the train crosses the St. Lucie canal on a vertical lift bridge. The train will then then turn east and cross the former Seaboard Air Line Railroad (now CXT) diamond at Marcy. We will continue as far east as operations permit toward Fort Pierce. The train will then will reverse direction and return to Clewiston with a stop at the Bryant Yard to wye the train and water the steam engine. At Clewiston, we will tie up for the night. 

Monday, April 25
We have a super rare mileage event as we depart Clewiston in the morning and proceed south through the sugar cane fields to a wye track adjacent to the Okeelanta Sugar Mill. No passenger train has ever traveled over this line. At Okeelanta the locomotive will be wyed, and we will return to Clewiston in the afternoon.

Tuesday, April 26
Passengers will enjoy tours of the area including visits to the sugar plantations and mills to see how sugar is grown and processed. Additional activities are under consideration, including a potential boat tour on Lake Okeechobee and a possible photo session. 

Wednesday, April 27
Our AAPRCO train departs Clewiston in the morning and returns to Sebring. We will then return to Miami as an Amtrak special. Thursday,

April 28
The Sugarland Limited will remain parked in Miami where passengers can explore South Beach, Miami, and surrounding attractions. 

Friday, April, 29
Cars depart Miami on Amtrak trains

WOW, one hell of a trip.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/22 11:01 by tomstp.

Already booked. Only 10 PV's are allowed  One note on the announcement. It says "no passenger train has ever covered" some portion of the proposed route. But next week's TRAINS Magazine charters will  cover some of the track the AAPRCO Train will run on. So by the time of the AAPRCO event, that statement will no longer be true. But way more mileage than TRAINS is providing. The TRAINS charter is more of a photography event than mileage collecting. Florida is one state I thought I'd never see steam operations. Looking forward to some warm sunny weather in the free state of Florida.

Train29 Wrote:
Looking forward to some warm sunny weather in the free state of
> Florida.

The only "free" things in Florida are the mosquitoes--bring your DEET.

YES on steam locomotive #148 picking up the train in Sebring and taking it to Clewistion on the 23rd.

Northbound move on the 27th is to be determined.

Roger

How does one sign up for this? Absolutely would fly out
 

For information on cars with space available,visit the 'Travel Opportunities' section of AAPRCO's website at www.aaprco.com. Sugarland LimitedSchedule 

Ah, gotta be a member, darn. Thanks though!

RWS4449 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For information on cars with space available,visit
> the 'Travel Opportunities' section of AAPRCO's
> website at www.aaprco.com. Sugarland
> LimitedSchedule 

90 bucks gets you a membership for a year.

Posted from Android

Fantastic! Good to see a.) an Amtrak special train (considering the ban from a couple years ago) and b.) U.S. Sugar 148 being used. Glad to see U.S. Sugar is committed to the steam/tourist business. I imagine it won't be that high speed, though... what's the maximum speed on the South Central Florida Express?

Max speed is 45 MPH

Posted from Android

RWS4449 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Max speed is 45 MPH
>
> Posted from Android

I stand corrected, then. That's faster than Norfolk Southern will allow. Fantastic! Hope the engine gets a chance to stretch her legs!

Great news for the PV world.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

RWS4449 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 90 bucks gets you a membership for a year.
>
I believe membership may be necessary at least partly because of AAPRCO's Insurance requirements.

Because of Amtrak's recent requirements for them to run a special train, will this trip be running 3 years in a row?

Posted from ordinary laptop computer.

Approximately $20K per car for this trip from Miami.