United States Sugar Corporation lies on a southern extension branch line of CSX. USSC uses the line for product delivery and transport, and internally to transfer raw Sugar Cane to their processing facilities for sugar and molasses.
Very interresting railroad indeed. I randomly found it the first time I came to Florida, about 15 years ago, looking for interresting railroad operations. Then, another railroad was operating freight on that line : South Central Florida Express, with its very nice paintscheme. Further on, SCFE has been purchased by USSC that now operates all traffic : sugarcane carrying from harvesting locations to Clewiston’s mill, and general freight. I flew back to Florida for a while 5 or 6 years ago, then politics had the last words with the airline I’m earning my money with, so unfortunately we have no plans to return to Florida anymore. Heavy operations between october and april during sugarcane harvesting, I was puzzled to see trains rolling behind each other with only visual separation.. But I took some pics as well as a video that in my opinion are interresting, I’ll post them here a little later, for the time beeing it’s apetizer and dinner time here.. Dom
I oversaw the remediation at the SCFE Clewiston Engine Facility for the USSC purchase. These older diesels bled grease and lube like crazy. We had to pull up most of the track on the east and west entrance due to the excavations related to TRPH contamination. The oil catching pans between the tracks were extended and piped to an oil/water separator. Took some time and effort, but USSC put a 100% effort into remediating all their holdings.
To start with, a video I took at Evercan Rd grade crossing, Clewiston.Unfortunately, a lot of wind that day.. Dom
And a few pics at various locations between Clewiston and South Bay. All taken on november to december 2019 time span. Fa Fallen flag remains.. The remaining following soon... Dom
And finally a few pics I took a few years earlier, circa 2012, close to Pahokee a little further east. SCFE was then still operating. Dom
As a conclusion USSC is a very interresting railroad. At least during harvesting seasons, it's very unlikely you won't see any train as trafic is very heavy. A lot of branchs / spurs originate from the main line in order to gather sugarcane deep from into the fields. Motive power, which mainly consists of EMD GP11s, GP38-2s et GP40-2s is kept into pristine condition, which is not that usual with a shortline / industrial railroad. And finally I guess it's a very interresting railroad to model for anyone who likes the idea of switching operations on a point to point layout. And you won't need to weather your locos. Dom
Absolutely great set of photos. Some classic EMD power in there, still looking good! In my experience and memory, short lines and large industrials tend to keep their loco fleet clean. For some it's a question of pride, for others it's to project a positive image to their customers. Nothing says service like having your cars delivered to and picked up from your spur by a squeaky clean locomotive and smiling crews! Then there are some Class I's that run locos with large discolored or burnt patches on the sides near the exhaust stack (toasters), neglect to wash them, or let them rust away until they scrap them.
OK, good point. You're right, rolling stock's cleanliness is certainly a marketing strong point for advertizing. But I was thinking about something like this.. Dom
A biodegradable locomotive!!! Along with the KCS switcher at right, that reminds me of a sight I saw once, a long time ago, driving home from work, of a couple of young adults crossing the street, the lad with a dirty, stained t-shirt and equally dirty hole-ridden jeans, and his girlfriend all dolled up and smartly dressed alongside...
Great photos. I had taken thousands during the years of remediation, but Uncle Ron has them. I do remember once just out of Belle Glade stopping at a Xing and seeing a Sperry Rail Service Unit (the large railcar, not the truck) checking tracks near the mill. USSC, due to all the petroleum contamination at the rail car mechanical cane loaders, tore out the equipment (necessary to excavate contaminated soils) and replaced them with concrete ramp and tipper trailers. None of the internal crossings in the cane fields have lit or sound signals, just a cross buck to warn you a train may appear out of nowhere just a few yards ahead. I was told most of the equipment, although appearing UP related, was purchased from Santa Fe, and refurbished.
