Sugar Express in Clewiston, Florida

Oct 19

Clewiston, Florida · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain rides2026 to 2027 season runs October to March on scheduled dates

Sugar Express is U.S. Sugar's heritage passenger train, carrying riders through the cane fields of the Glades in vintage coaches pulled by steam locomotive No. 148 or the company's own diesels.

Steam locomotive No. 148
Rides from Clewiston, Sebring, Lake Placid
Train seats about 300 guests
Open-air car and dining car
Santa Express each December

Sugar Express at a glance

Hours: Scheduled departures only; most trips leave Clewiston between 10 am and 5 pm on posted dates
Admission: Fares from $55 for two-hour trips, $60 for Santa Express and $85 for the Lake Placid Limited (as of October 2026)
Train rides: Two-hour round trips, brunch trains to Palmdale and the full-day Lake Placid Limited, October to March
Seasonal events: Santa Express, Lake Placid Limited, Ice Cream Train, New Year Moore Haven Meteor, Valentine's Brunch Train, Archbold Arrow, Sugar Fest trains
Plan for: About 2 hours for most trips; 7 hours for the Lake Placid Limited
Best for: Families and anyone who wants a real steam or diesel ride
Best ages: All ages for Santa and Ice Cream trains; older kids for the Lake Placid Limited
Accessibility: All cars except the open-air car are climate controlled, and the train has two restrooms.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Contact and directions

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Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Sugar Express? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Clewiston.

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Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A sugar company's railroad opens its doors to passengers

Sugar Express grew out of the rail operations of the U.S. Sugar Corporation, one of the largest sugar producers in the country. The company runs an extensive private rail network that brings cane from the fields to its processing plant in Clewiston, and at the heart of that system is the South Central Florida Express, a 171-mile short line that circles through the region. Sugar Express trains travel over those working USSC and SCXF tracks.

U.S. Sugar describes Sugar Express as an outreach, education and tourism program, a way to connect guests with the farming heritage and communities of the Glades. Trips depart from Clewiston, Lake Placid and Sebring, using historic steam locomotive No. 148, U.S. Sugar diesel locomotives, and a set of vintage passenger cars restored to recall the golden age of American rail travel.

The railroad calls itself Florida's only mainline excursion railroad, and its Facebook page describes it as the state's only steam-powered passenger excursion train. Railroad superintendent M. Scott Ogle thanks riders on the website for being part of the Sugar Express story, a reminder that each season is built by the crews who keep No. 148 and the coaches in running order on a busy freight railroad.

Aboard the coaches through the cane fields

Every trip is a ride rather than a walk-through museum. The trainset includes three deluxe coaches, a dining car with tables and an open-air car with bench seating, and all of the cars except the open-air car are climate controlled. There are two restrooms on board. On many trains you can choose a seating class: Open Air, Deluxe Coach, First Class or a private Pullman.

Most excursions are two-hour round trips out of Clewiston through farmland and cane fields, while a few go farther: the Sunday and Valentine's brunch trains run to Palmdale, the Archbold Arrow heads to Archbold, and the New Year train visits Moore Haven. The longest is the Lake Placid Limited, a full-day trip where a U.S. Sugar diesel leads the train north and No. 148 takes it home on the southbound leg.

Don’t miss

Steam locomotive No. 148The historic Pacific-type steam engine that powers the railroad's steam trips, including the southbound run of the Lake Placid Limited.
The Lake Placid LimitedThe most popular trip, a seven-hour day out from Clewiston to Lake Placid and back, starting at 10 am.
The open-air carBench seats with no windows between you and the fields, the best spot to hear the engine and smell the cane country.
Santa ExpressTwo-hour holiday rides from Clewiston and Sebring with decorations, carols, treats and a visit from Santa.
The Ice Cream TrainA two-hour family excursion with an ice cream treat on the way, a gentle first trip for young riders.

Picking the right train for little riders

The Ice Cream Train and the Santa Express are the family picks: both run about two hours and are open to all ages. The Santa Express adds holiday decorations, carols, treats and a visit from Santa, and families can choose the open-air car for a breezy ride or a climate-controlled coach on a warm day. With restrooms on board, a two-hour trip is manageable for preschoolers.

The seven-hour Lake Placid Limited is open to all ages too, but it suits older kids who can sit through a full day. Several evening trains, including the Rum Train and Sunset and Suds, are for guests 21 and over, so check the age line before you book.

Plan your visit: tips for Sugar Express

Check whether your date is steam or diesel on the schedule; it is listed for every train.
Rum Train, Sunset and Suds and the New Year train are 21 and over.
Pick a climate-controlled coach on hot days; the open-air car has no air conditioning.
Groups of 20 or more can book cars or charter the whole train through the group sales form.
Santa Express dates sell from both Clewiston and Sebring, so confirm your departure city.

Holiday season is the busiest time on Sugar Express. For 2026, Santa Express trains leave Clewiston on several dates from November 28 through December 23 and Sebring on December 6 and December 18 to 20, with departures at 10 am, 1 pm and 4 pm on most days and steam on select dates. Each ride runs about two hours with carols, treats and Santa on board. For more holiday rides around the state, see our list of Christmas train rides in Florida.

U.S. Sugar's crews and the people who ride

Sugar Express is run by U.S. Sugar as an outreach, education and tourism program, with railroad superintendent M. Scott Ogle and the crews who maintain No. 148, the diesels and the vintage coaches. Riders support it simply by booking trips, bringing a group, or following along on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for schedule news.

Pair Clewiston with a South Florida rail museum

The Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, home of Henry Flagler's private railcar, is about 55 miles east. The Railroad Museum of South Florida in Fort Myers is about 60 miles west, and the Boca Express Train Museum is about 59 miles away. See every train museum in Florida for more.

Every train museum in Florida

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train — From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Sugar Express has a real railroad superintendent who thanks riders for being part of the story, and that small kindness made me think of Mr. Conductor in our book. In his blue uniform he reaches out a hand to Rally at the door, as if a short corgi is the most important passenger on the train. Mom and Dad smile, and off they go. You can print that page from our coloring pages.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

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More for train families

Train museums in Florida: every museum by town, with a map
Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
Christmas train rides in Florida
Halloween train rides in Florida
Every Amtrak route with kids

Work or volunteer at Sugar Express?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Sugar Express train: 20 questions riders ask

What is the Sugar Express train?

Sugar Express is a heritage passenger train in South Central Florida run by U.S. Sugar as an outreach, education and tourism program. It carries riders through sugarcane country in vintage passenger cars pulled by steam locomotive No. 148 or U.S. Sugar diesels, on themed trips, holiday trains and full-day excursions.

Where is the Sugar Express train in Florida?

Sugar Express is based in Clewiston, Florida, with its contact address at 165 Basilan Crescent, Clewiston, FL 33440. Most trips depart from Clewiston, but some Santa Express trains leave from Sebring and the Lake Placid Limited stops in Lake Placid. Your ticket and the schedule page list the exact boarding city.

Where does the Sugar Express go?

Trains travel over U.S. Sugar's USSC rail network and the South Central Florida Express, a 171-mile short line. Most trips are two-hour round trips through cane fields from Clewiston. Others go to Palmdale, Moore Haven and Archbold, and the Lake Placid Limited runs all the way to Lake Placid and back.

What is the Sugar Express schedule for 2026?

As of October 2026, the 2026 to 2027 season includes Lake Placid Limited runs on October 10, November 14, January 23 and February 27, an Ice Cream Train and Rum Train on October 24, a brunch train on October 25, and Santa Express trains from late November to December 23. Check sugarexpress.com for the full list and availability.

How much are Sugar Express tickets?

As of October 2026, two-hour excursions such as the Ice Cream Train and Rum Train start at $55, the Santa Express starts at $60, and the Lake Placid Limited and Valentine's Brunch Train start at $85. Prices rise for First Class and private Pullman seating. Book through sugarexpress.com for current fares.

Does Sugar Express offer senior ticket prices?

Sugar Express does not post a separate senior fare or free senior tickets online. Fares are listed by trip and seating class, starting at $55 for most two-hour rides as of October 2026. Email contact@sugarexpress.com to ask whether any discounts apply before you book.

How long is the Sugar Express train ride?

Most Sugar Express trips last about two hours round trip, including the Ice Cream Train, Rum Train, Sunset and Suds and Santa Express. The Valentine's Brunch Train is about two and a half hours, Sugar Fest Local is about 90 minutes, and the Lake Placid Limited is a full-day trip of about seven hours.

Is the Sugar Express pulled by a steam engine?

Some trips are. Historic steam locomotive No. 148 pulls select trains, while others use U.S. Sugar diesel locomotives. The schedule marks each date as steam or diesel. On the Lake Placid Limited, a diesel leads the northbound run and No. 148 handles the trip back south.

Does Sugar Express have a Christmas train?

Yes. The Santa Express is a two-hour round trip with holiday decorations, classic carols, treats and a visit from Santa. For 2026 it runs from Clewiston and Sebring on dates between November 28 and December 23, with departures at 10 am, 1 pm and 4 pm on most days. Fares start at $60 as of October 2026.

What is the Sugar Express Rum Train?

The Rum Train is a two-hour evening excursion from Clewiston for guests 21 and older, with fares from $55 as of October 2026. A New Year version, the Moore Haven Meteor Rum Train, runs with steam on January 2, 2027, from Clewiston to Moore Haven and back.

What is the Lake Placid Limited on Sugar Express?

The Lake Placid Limited is the railroad's most popular trip: a seven-hour, all-ages day out from Clewiston to Lake Placid. It leaves Clewiston at 10 am and starts back from Lake Placid at 3 pm, with a diesel going north and steam locomotive No. 148 coming south. Fares start at $85 as of October 2026.

Is Sugar Express good for young kids?

Yes, on the right train. The Ice Cream Train and Santa Express are open to all ages and last about two hours, and the train has two restrooms on board. Avoid the 21-and-over evening trains, and save the seven-hour Lake Placid Limited for kids who can handle a long day.

What seating options does Sugar Express offer?

Depending on the trip, you can choose the Open Air car with bench seating, a Deluxe Coach, First Class or a private Pullman. The trainset has three deluxe coaches, a dining car with tables and the open-air car. Every car except the open-air car is climate controlled.

Can groups charter the Sugar Express?

Yes. Single passenger cars, holding about 40 to 60 guests each, or the whole train, holding about 300, can be chartered. Groups of 20 or more can also get priority bookings on existing public trains. Use the group sales form on sugarexpress.com and note whether you prefer Clewiston, Lake Placid or Sebring.

What do Sugar Express reviews say?

Riders who post reviews often mention friendly staff, clean cars and well maintained equipment, and one Tripadvisor reviewer who rode during the Clewiston sugar festival ranked it at the top of the many excursions they had taken. You can read current reviews on the railroad's Tripadvisor and Facebook pages.

What are the Sugar Fest trains on Sugar Express?

During Clewiston's sugar festival season, Sugar Express runs steam excursions called Sugar Fest Spritzer, a two-hour trip, and Sugar Fest Local, a shorter 90-minute ride. Fares start at $55 as of October 2026. Check the schedule page for this season's festival dates.

Who runs the Sugar Express?

Sugar Express is an outreach, education and tourism program of U.S. Sugar, one of the largest sugar producers in the United States. The company operates a private rail network that carries cane to its Clewiston plant, and Sugar Express trains use those tracks. M. Scott Ogle serves as railroad superintendent.

Is the Sugar Express air conditioned?

Mostly. All of the passenger cars are climate controlled except the open-air car, which has bench seating and no windows. If you are riding on a hot day with small children or older relatives, choose a Deluxe Coach, First Class or Pullman seat.

How do I contact Sugar Express?

Email contact@sugarexpress.com or use the form on the Contact Us page at sugarexpress.com. The mailing address is 165 Basilan Crescent, Clewiston, FL 33440. Sugar Express also posts schedule updates on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube under SugarExpressFL.

What train museums are near Sugar Express?

The Flagler Museum in Palm Beach is about 55 miles away, the Boca Express Train Museum about 59 miles, and the Railroad Museum of South Florida in Fort Myers about 60 miles. The Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami is about 85 miles, making Clewiston a good start for a South Florida rail trip.

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Kelsey Cecil