U.S. Sugar 148

U.S. Sugar 148
U.S. Sugar No. 148 with the inaugural Sugar Express excursion train in Lake Placid, Florida, in December 2021
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder ALCO's Richmond Works Serial number 61769 Build date April 1920 Rebuild date 2017–2020
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2  • UIC 2′C1′ h Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 68 in (1,727 mm) Adhesive weight 126,500 lb (57.4 tonnes) Loco weight 204,000 lb (92.5 tonnes) Tender weight 162,000 lb (73.5 tonnes) Total weight 366,000 lb (166.0 tonnes) Fuel type Recycled vegetable oil, originally bunker C oil Fuel capacity 3,500 US gallons (13,000 L) Water cap. 7,300 US gallons (28,000 L) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 47.1 sq ft (4.4 m2) Boiler 66+5⁄8 in (1,692 mm) Boiler pressure 180 psi (1.24 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 160 sq ft (14.9 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 440 sq ft (40.9 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 22 in × 26 in (559 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Valve type 11-inch (279 mm) piston valves
Performance figures Maximum speed 70 mph (113 km/h) Tractive effort 28,314 lbf (125.95 kN) Factor of adh. 4.47
Career Operators Florida East Coast Railway (1920–1952) U.S. Sugar Corporation (1952–1968, 2020–present) Black River and Western Railroad (1971–1973) Morristown and Erie Railway (1974–1977) Class 141 Number in class 8 of 10 Numbers FEC 148 USSC 148 BRW 148 Delivered June 1920 Retired 1968 (revenue service) 1977 (1st excursion service) Restored 1970 (1st restoration) April 2020 (2nd restoration) Current owner U.S. Sugar Corporation Disposition Operational
References:[1]

U.S. Sugar 148, formerly Florida East Coast 148, is a 4-6-2 steam locomotive built in April 1920 by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Richmond, Virginia, originally for the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC). It hauled passenger and freight trains between Jacksonville and Miami, Florida, including FEC's Overseas Railroad to Key West, Florida until the line was destroyed in 1935. The locomotive was sold in 1952 to U.S. Sugar Corporation (USSC) to haul sugarcane trains in Clewiston, Florida.

During the 1970s, No. 148 was sold again to New Jersey, where it served excursion service on the Black River and Western (BRW) and Morristown and Erie (ME) railroads. Between 1983 and 2005, the locomotive was sold multiple times to various different owners in Connecticut, Michigan, and Colorado who have attempted to restore No. 148 to operation but never succeeded.

In late 2016, USSC reacquired the No. 148 locomotive and restored it to operating condition by 2020 for use in excursion service on their South Central Florida Express shortline railroad as part of their heritage tourist passenger train named the Sugar Express, touring visitors all around the Lake Okeechobee counties.