U.S. Sugar Christens Historic Steam Locomotive

CLEWISTON, FL - Members of the Glades communities, local elected officials, pastors and the people of U.S. Sugar celebrated today the beginning of the company’s 90th harvest season at a dedication event for its historic steam locomotive Engine No. 148, which hauled the season’s first sugarcane train from field to mill. FMW was retained in early 2019 to complete the restoration of this historic locomotive, and we are honored to have played a role in this historic dedication.

“Our company has great respect for the hard, admirable work that brought this piece of history back to life,” said U.S. Sugar President and CEO Robert Buker. “We are proud to finally be able to show everyone this amazing artifact of American ingenuity, innovation and industrial know-how.”

The steam engine was christened with a champagne bottle of sugar, broken by Barbara Buker, wife of U.S. Sugar president and CEO Robert Buker.

Everyone safely gathered around the century old locomotive as it came to halt on the tracks before them and Mr. and Mrs. Buker smashed a champagne bottle of pure cane sugar over its coupler to christen the “Sugar Express” before sending the train on toward the mill. The Clewiston Tigers High School Marching Band was also on hand to play “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” as the steam locomotive was dedicated.

“On behalf of my colleagues, I must thanks U.S. Sugar, and Mr. Buker, for the trust that placed in our firm to complete the restoration of No. 148,” said FMW President Davidson Ward. “About a dozen FMW team members worked alongside U.S. Sugar to see No. 148 returned to operation. It is thanks to everyone’s hard work that we are able to see her in service today.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event was not open to the public; however, the City of Clewiston invited local residents and rail fans to view the train from a secure, pre-determined location as it chugged through town.  The newly restored steam engine was also displayed for several hours at the U.S. Sugar Locomotive North Shop for individuals to take photographs and videos.

“Ninety years ago, our founder, Charles Stewart Mott first laid out his vision for U.S. Sugar to become a leader in innovation,” said Ken McDuffie, Senior VP of Sugarcane Operations at U.S. Sugar. “Part of that innovation was developing the only large-scale rail network for trains to haul harvested cane to a sugar mill.”

“While most steam locomotives originally ran on coal, U.S. Sugar’s fleet used cleaner burning fuel oil.  And because we’re always looking for innovation and sustainability, this steam engine has been designed to run on recycled vegetable oil,” said Buker.

U.S. Sugar plans to add passenger cars to Engine No. 148 in the future so visitors can see their farms and learn more about the company’s rich history and food production from a very unique perspective.  The Sugar Express also is expected to help draw more visitors to America’s Sweetest Town as they come to experience a ride on a genuine steam locomotive.