Eastern Railroad Discussion > Season Finale for the Sugar Express Trains

June 3-4 is the final weekend of the 2022-23 Sugar Express season. Today's sold-out train was a "Lake Placid Limited". So I took off this morning with the goals of getting some different angle than my previous posts on No. 148. I started at Moore Haven where the South Central Florida Express crosses the Caloosahatchee Canal. In addition to the train, I wanted to see the swing bridge in operation. By the time the train arrived there were many rail fans. Next on my "agenda" was to get the train crossing a major highway a track speed (that video will be at the end). Lastly I would up in Lake Placid as the train coasted into town.

There were rail fans from as far away as Miami-Dade, Orlando and Tampa Bay area. I hope you enjoy and thanks for riding along.

PCBill

1. Gator warning sign - a Florida reality
2. Long before Disney, Universal and Sea World, the Florida highways had many tourist attractions - here "Gatorama", on US 27 south of Palmdale (don't let the empty parking lot fool ya. On the way back north, chasing the 148, there were 15 cars parked there their motto: "Fast Hands or No Hands".
3. Fully open swing span in Moore Haven. The structure in the background is the dam and locks for access to Lake Okeechobee.
more......



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/23 14:51 by bmarti7.

---

---

---

4. Swing span is starting to close - note the track raised
5. Almost there.
6. No. 148 crosses the swing span - 10 mph
more.....

---

---

---

7. Riders pack the open baggage car and vestibules - the heck with air conditioning
8. No. 148 high balls, now clear of the bridge
9. The train coasts into the Lake Placid, ex-ACL depot - 1/2 mile ahead
one more (video)

---

---

---

10. The railroad crosses US Highway 27 (4-lanes/divided) at grade

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Thanks for posting your interesting pics and video.  It is a great looking train.

Bill,
 great series of pictures. Glad you made it out there to catch it. Keep the pictures coming.
Robert in Island City Oregon 

How do these goof-balls always manage to do it?
There's acres of open land,  and dummy picks the 
'spot' right in front of YOU!

He could be 20 feet either side of you----
but , No, they always choose to stand right in front 
of you..

He knew it too, he glanced back at the end to 
catch your reaction!

OMG, it never fails to amaze me how stupid, selfish and
petty people are.
 I guess that's why Victor Hand always carried a step ladder along..

​W. 

wcamp1472 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How do these goof-balls always manage to do it?
> There's acres of open land,  and dummy picks
> the 
> 'spot' right in front of YOU!
>
> He could be 20 feet either side of you----
> but , No, they always choose to stand right in
> front 
> of you..
>
> He knew it too, he glanced back at the end to 
> catch your reaction!
>
> OMG, it never fails to amaze me how stupid,
> selfish and
> petty people are.
>  I guess that's why Victor Hand always carried a
> step ladder along..
>
> ​W. 

You're absolutely correct about this as it has been going on for years and years.  I've had it happen to me many years ago and with everyone whom I know who has been out there photographing a special train, a stupid person will get right in front even when these people have been told that there is an organized photo line where everyone tries to get a nice picture and boom, some idiot will pop up or jump up in front of everyone else.  I don't know how we can ever fix stupid.  
John in White Marsh, Maryland

Well let's see, the two standing next to the tracks got a shot which isn't worth having and the guy who stepped
in front would be the recipient of a few words. At some point there is a place for aggressive behavior.

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well let's see, the two standing next to the
> tracks got a shot which isn't worth having and the
> guy who stepped
> in front would be the recipient of a few words. At
> some point there is a place for aggressive
> behavior.
>
> Out 

In all fairness, since I chose to see the train crossing the canal in Moore Haven, I was late to the US 27 crossing. There were several rail fans set up on the shoulders of the north and south bound lanes and terrain and jungle prohibited spreading out along the ROW. So I pulled into the median and pointed my dash cam towards the US 27 north crossing. The guy in the red shirt just stumbled onto the scene, trying to figure out what was going on. I doubt if he ever saw my camera. I thought the setup was my best alternative and thankful that the Highway Patrol didn't come by.

Bill

I can't believe how similiar that whistle sounds like L&N's 152. And what a goof ball of that guy standing in front of your shot. 

Can't fix stupid...

In photo lines....
However, that behavior that you cite is aggressive and intentional..
Its not a matter of common sense or intelligence,---- its passive-aggressive behavior.
And a pattern of behavior, encouraged,  since childhood..

The  person with the obstructive behavior is not interested in trains.... but, wants to be
the lighting rod. 

He knows full-well that the crowd won't  physically remove him.... so, the warped persist.

In this case, the explanation seems valid account the camera was in the car...
so it wouldn't be obvious to him that he was in your 'shot'..

​W.

In Florida it is worthwhile to expect the other person may be irrational, angry, and armed.

So you pick your fights with care.

Posted from Android

Sad to say…

A worthy caution, in this day and
age…,

Other than headlines, I haven’t
kept up with the laws in Florida,
and Texas—-

It’s getting to where: Anybody, any age can carry a gun anywhere, any time, any place…

Churches are holding gun clubs,
& shooting classes…
What would Jesus say, if he
were to be there ?

Are the leaders of these churches
nuts, or just crazy?

W.

Posted from iPhone

wcamp1472 Wrote:
-----------------------------------------------------
> It’s getting to where: Anybody, any age can
> carry a gun anywhere, any time, any place…
>
> Churches are holding gun clubs,
> & shooting classes…
> What would Jesus say, if he
> were to be there ?
>
> Are the leaders of these churches
> nuts, or just crazy?
>
> W.

I believe Jesus would say: "Well done ". Our church in Charlotte County is one of twelve that hires off-duty Sheriff's deputies every Sunday morning with a marked car so we aren't seen as a soft target. The churches I served in North and South Dakota had armed security on Sundays. We also lock our doors weekdays to protect our staff. There is much evil in the World. Our church leadership want worshippers to attend church in peace and focusing on God.  There's violence on church campuses every week. You only hear about it when someone gets killed. Every church should have some kind of security. Any church would be naive to think it couldn't happen to them. God expects us to use the wisdom He has blessed us with.
Bill 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/04/23 11:41 by bmarti7.

Fantastic recap of the last trip.  Back up north here in Wisconsin,  the church we have attended has security, concealed carry.   Wisdom, as King Solomon wrote of.

PWM

I never heard of armed security at church services in my neck of the woods, small town Midwest.

🤔

Regards

Posted from iPhone

Drknow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I never heard of armed security at church services
> in my neck of the woods, small town Midwest.
>
> 🤔
>
> Regards
>
> Posted from iPhone

Small town church in Strickland TX turned into a bloodbath. Bible study at Mother Emmanuel church in Charleston SC ended with six dead as a "Confederate sympathizer" killed praying people.

Armed security is common here in South Florida. Security started with Jewish synagogues and Islamic mosques, moved on to Christian churches. Most sheriff departments have units focused on hardening security for houses of worship.

Lots of angry, armed people looking to cause trouble.

Posted from Android