by Noel Weaver
Anybody on here with interest in the sugar railroading in and around Clewiston, Florida please be advised that the operation will shut down for the season on or about March 22nd. It will reopen on or around October 1st.
Also please be advised that un-announced visits are most definatly not welcomed. I do not know what your reception will be if you write ahead but I do know that if you show up on private property in that area it will not be pleasant.
I went on an organized tour of the operation yesterday and it was fantastic, if any further opportunities occur down the road I would urge anybody who would like to see first generation locomotives (most have been rebuilt or remanufactured over the years), end cab swiltchers and other interesting stuff to take advantage of any opportunity for a tour of this interesting operation if it is again offered. They have over 130 miles of track, hundreds of thousands of acres of sugar fields and a large fleet of locomotives and cars.
I also got a good look at the South Central Florida Express operation which is a line haul railroad running between Clewiston and Sebring 3 days a week to interchange with CSX and 5 or 6 days a week to Fort Pierce to interchange with the Florida East Coast. Again, unannounced vilsits on private property are most definately not welcomed.
I might have some more to post on this trip later on.
Noel Weaver
Also please be advised that un-announced visits are most definatly not welcomed. I do not know what your reception will be if you write ahead but I do know that if you show up on private property in that area it will not be pleasant.
I went on an organized tour of the operation yesterday and it was fantastic, if any further opportunities occur down the road I would urge anybody who would like to see first generation locomotives (most have been rebuilt or remanufactured over the years), end cab swiltchers and other interesting stuff to take advantage of any opportunity for a tour of this interesting operation if it is again offered. They have over 130 miles of track, hundreds of thousands of acres of sugar fields and a large fleet of locomotives and cars.
I also got a good look at the South Central Florida Express operation which is a line haul railroad running between Clewiston and Sebring 3 days a week to interchange with CSX and 5 or 6 days a week to Fort Pierce to interchange with the Florida East Coast. Again, unannounced vilsits on private property are most definately not welcomed.
I might have some more to post on this trip later on.
Noel Weaver