CLEWISTON — U.S. Sugar recently restored its historic steam locomotive Engine No. 148 ahead of the company’s 90th harvest season.

The company hosted a private, socially distant event in Clewiston on Oct. 1 to christen the train before it hauled the first cane of the harvest season from field to mill.

The event was attended by members of the Glades communities, pastors and employees of U.S. Sugar.

“Our company has great respect for the hard, admirable work that brought this piece of history back to life,” said United States 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 knowhow.”

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

Barbara Buker, wife of Robert, christened the steam engine with a champagne bottle of sugar. 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.

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 vice president 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.”

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.

The restoration of the locomotive was performed by FMW Solutions LLC. Engine No. 148 was used by U.S. Sugar from 1952 to 1969 before being sold to private ownership.

U.S. Sugar has been working to restore Engine No. 148 since 2016. The steam locomotive, which the Florida East Coast Railway originally received delivery of in June 1920, ran throughout their system, including on the fabled Key West Extension. The Florida East Coast Railway, the only rail system along the east coast of Florida, maintained the locomotive until 1952, when it was acquired by U.S. Sugar.