Some sweet news; U.S. Sugar fires up number 148!

Howard P. · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:12 am

In that photo of the lined-up engines, the three on the right look like FEC 4-6-2s. USSC had at least three: 113, 148, and 153. FEC sold off a lot of surplus steam power in the early 1930s, 4-8-2s and 4-6-2s in particular. Sam Freeman, who bought 148 in 1969, said he always wanted one of the 4-8-2s that went to Mexico, and lasted until the mid-60s.

Georgia Northern 107, on display in Georgia, was originally FEC 4-6-2 #80.

Howard P.

Bartman-TN · **Joined:** Tue Jul 02, 2013 10:45 pm **Posts:** 332

U.S. Sugar had at least five 4-6-2 locomotives that came from the Florida East Coast - #65, #98, #113, #148 and #153. The railroad also had several 4-6-0 locomotives, some switchers, etc. Pretty much anything rather light but with power that was cheap to acquire. The company was really good at buying old steam locomotives and then rebuilding them in their own shop. When done, they became scrap. I've never seen a complete steam roster for the railroad but hope to dig through more records to see what is available.

hankmum · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 5:54 pm

For those who have never seen it. Here is 148 back in 1975...almost 45 years ago. 148 outlived Tom Snyder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcq3m-Hah54
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSjtkaMET5E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VyoD-Do3Xs

Dave · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 6:19 pm

148 probably smoked less...... just sayin'.

Mark Locke · **Joined:** Sat Mar 22, 2014 8:41 pm **Posts:** 53

Howard P. wrote:

In that photo of the lined-up engines, the three on the right look like FEC 4-6-2s. USSC had at least three: 113, 148, and 153. FEC sold off a lot of surplus steam power in the early 1930s, 4-8-2s and 4-6-2s in particular. Sam Freeman, who bought 148 in 1969, said he always wanted one of the 4-8-2s that went to Mexico, and lasted until the mid-60s.

Georgia Northern 107, on display in Georgia, was originally FEC 4-6-2 #80.

Howard P.

148 would not have been in this photo, U.S.Sugar did not acquire her until 1952. 113 G 153 were both acquired in 1938, #153 coming straight from the FEC, and #113 from the Walter Wallingford Co. , a scrapper who bought her in the early '30s. She sat out the depression in the scrapyard, waiting for prices to rise.

PaulWWoodring · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2020 12:19 am

hankmum wrote:

For those who have never seen it. Here is 148 back in 1975...almost 45 years ago. 148 outlived Tom Snyder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcq3m-Hah54
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSjtkaMET5E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VyoD-Do3Xs

Tom Snyder was a long-time train lover and Lionel collector. It would have been fascinating to spend an evening talking trains with him over dinner.

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1799

steamfan765 wrote:

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. .

Is there a plan to ever operate it for excursions? I thought it was always just a marketing / history kinda thing.

Bartman-TN · **Joined:** Tue Jul 02, 2013 10:45 pm **Posts:** 332

On Excursions:
There have been some at the company looking at potential excursions and what it would take to conduct them. There have been some trips made to look at passenger cars, but no final decisions have been made. Other efforts have focused on community and employee goodwill. This is all new for the company and they have been talking to a number of people across the country about various options. When decisions are made, announcements will be made.

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1799

Oh that’s cool it’s even being considered.

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Fri May 29, 2020 3:01 pm

A new press release:

https://www.ussugar.com/news/u-s-sugar- ... BPF0dEPlzQ

And a cool little video:

https://www.facebook.com/USSugarFL/vide ... 99733/?t=7

Some key quotes:

Quote:

“U.S. Sugar’s restoration of Engine No. 148 has been a tremendous source of pride for our employees, who have worked tirelessly over the past 4 years to bring this steam engine back to life,” said Bob Lawson, general manager for U.S. Sugar Railroad Operations. “We look forward to the day when we can host members of the public on excursions to share our rich history with railroad enthusiasts, Florida residents and children alike.”

“The pride that U.S. Sugar has in its heritage, and this historic symbol in particular, is something truly exceptional in this day-and-age,” said Shane Meador, FMW Solutions Vice President. “We are honored to have worked with U.S. Sugar to complete the restoration of No. 148 and have been pleased with its performance during recent test runs and yesterday’s historic run.”

To coincide with this momentous occasion, and in support of the expanded mission of operating No. 148, U.S. Sugar is also pleased to announce that it will be operating the steam locomotive under the brand it has dubbed the “Sugar Express.” This new name is in reference both to the locomotive’s heritage at U.S. Sugar and its future role hauling “Express” trains across some of the hundreds of miles of mainline railroad maintained and operated by U.S. Sugar.

Quote:

The mission of the Sugar Express is to provide a safe and educational means to learn about transportation history, agriculture, and U.S. Sugar. It will use historic steam locomotive No. 148 to take visitors on trips through the lush crop lands cultivated by the nearly 2,500 hardworking employees of U.S. Sugar. For more information, visit sugarexpress.com.

http://sugarexpress.com/

Now, what can they use for cars?

Chuck Richards · **Joined:** Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:21 am **Posts:** 60

Hmm. This nicely restored steam locomotive 148 gets me to
wondering if there might be any outside chance of U.S. Sugar
somehow partnering up with the new tourist outfit that now
runs on Florida Central railroad between Tavares and Mt. Dora, FL?

The new outfit at Tavares and Mt. Dora has been put in place
on that line after the old Tavares, Eustis, and Gulf Railroad's
contract with FL Central expired a couple years ago.

The old outfit used Reader Railroad equipment and had a very
nice little wood fired mogul engine which usually hauled 5 cars.

The new outfit there apparently uses much heavier, more modern
rolling stock than the "old west" look and feel of the Reader equipment.

Engine 148 would fit in very nicely there!

I honestly wonder if there's any chance of that happening?

Frisco1522 · **Posted:** Sat May 30, 2020 7:29 pm

I don't know the reasoning or the politics behind it, but its a shame that Steam Operation Corp. couldn't finish the job.
I visited Continental Fab a couple of times while they were doing the boiler work on her.

Bartman-TN · **Joined:** Tue Jul 02, 2013 10:45 pm **Posts:** 332

#148 will likely stay at Clewiston - there have been a number of plans reviewed and considered by U.S. Sugar.

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1799

Chuck Richards wrote:

Hmm. This nicely restored steam locomotive 148 gets me to
wondering if there might be any outside chance of U.S. Sugar
somehow partnering up with the new tourist outfit that now
runs on Florida Central railroad between Tavares and Mt. Dora, FL?

The new outfit at Tavares and Mt. Dora has been put in place
on that line after the old Tavares, Eustis, and Gulf Railroad's
contract with FL Central expired a couple years ago.

The old outfit used Reader Railroad equipment and had a very
nice little wood fired mogul engine which usually hauled 5 cars.

The new outfit there apparently uses much heavier, more modern
rolling stock than the "old west" look and feel of the Reader equipment.

Engine 148 would fit in very nicely there!

I honestly wonder if there's any chance of that happening?

While anything is possible I’m not sure why it would happen? If the operation in Lake Dora wanted to pay for steam, plenty are available for lease (like the Reader engine you mentioned). I don’t think US Sugar paid to restore a locomotive so it could operate on someone else’s railroad! Ha.

Regarding the restoration... they wouldn’t have changed restoration groups if there wasn’t a reason. It’s clear that the group who finished the job knew what they were doing. :)

Andrew Durden · **Posted:** Mon Jun 01, 2020 8:23 am

Howard P. wrote:

Georgia Northern 107, on display in Georgia, was originally FEC 4-6-2 #80.

Howard P.

Minor correction: 107 is FEC 88, Savannah & Atlanta 750 is ex-FEC 80.