Nice video! Thanks Matt. Gives us folks a good idea of what's happening. She looks great.

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Some screen shots from Kathy Bellew's facebook post

She is one sweet looking locomotive!

What other steam locomotives does the sugar company own?

Robert

What a contrast to when I last saw this engine in decrepit condition in Monte Vista, CO. Congrats to all involved in this restoration.

I think if you ask, they will say one is enough.

The regular operations are done with diesels. I think TRAINS Magazine had a story about the sugar cane harvest, etc. operations a few years back.

There may be a steam locomotive stored on their property that they do not own. There once was a 0-8-0 Florida East Coast switcher in Fort Pierce, FL that had to be moved. It and other equipment ended up in storage on US Sugar property.

Brian,

Thanks for the response.

I was just trying to solicit information.

I have heard a couple rumors about USSC eventually going to restore the FEC #253, 0-8-0 switcher. It would be nice, but unlikely to ever happen. At present, no 0-8-0 is in steam in North America to my knowledge.

Robert

I'm happy to see another steam locomotive back in operation but I have one concern and that is what are they going to do with 148? I mean there's aren't going to be any excursions for awhile most likely until next year. They could operate it on some freight work. One big excursion that US Sugar and FEC could do after the pandemic would a free excursion for the doctors, nurses, janitors etc. who work at hospitals with 148 at the point. I also have another question since 148 is an oil burner didn't US Sugar had it converted to run on sugar based ethanol I mean they would have a lot of waste from harvesting and could turn it into fuel for the 148.

There are actually a few odd items at Bryant Yard. These include #253 (0-8-0), FEC crane #3377 and idler #3625, FEC caboose #806, tool car #3607, tank car #3774, and boxcar #3760 - basically an old wreck train. From what I was told, none belong to the sugar company but are stored here for several historical groups.

On the waste - there basically is none from the sugar cane process.
The rough leaves are burned off which fall back and fertilizes the ground. The non-stalk that is left in the fields are used as ground cover to prevent soils from washing and to fertilize the soils.
The bagasse (cane after the sugar juice is removed) is used to produce steam and electricity for the facility. The process and equipment used by U.S. Sugar to make the electricity from bagasse earned the company the Energy Institute’s prestigious Environment Award for setting a new standard in emission control performance in 2006.
It is interesting that one of the reasons that the sugar company was created was to produce bagasse for materials for wallboard for the Celotex Company.

I'm hoping to have my book on the sugar company and its railroads out late this year. I am running behind because my several weeks of on-site visit have been held up because of the virus.

Bart Jennings

U. S. Sugar apparently had quite a few steamers in regular service at one time, including number 148. Has anyone ever done a U. S. Sugar steam locomotive roster?

Les, we did find some other engines in this old thread (first two pages only--and I doubt it's a complete roster).

Been a while since anyone did anything with it, last entries are for 2017:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=39933

By the way, did you ever locate a copy of Seth Bramson's "Speedway to Sunshine?"

Doing more looking, and I did come across this article with a most interesting photo, but darn it, the engine numbers don't look to be readable.

https://www.news-press.com/story/entert ... /98354102/

Nothing about US Sugar steam here at all, but we do have some info on the railroad, including maps.

http://www.botecomm.com/bote/rail/railfan_sugar.html