After a few test runs in late spring & summer, #148 makes its official return to US Sugar on the first day of the 2020-2021 cane season, pulling a publicity train to the mill.

US Sugar quickly gained notoriety in 2020 for operating their steam locomotive on the only Toys For Tots special in the entire state of Florida.

USSC Cane 5 rumbles through Belle Glade bound for the mill at Clewiston.

Santa waves at the crowd from the back of the Georgia 300.

Toys for Tots Santa Express out of Clewiston, passing through South Bay, next stop Belle Glade

Departing Clewiston after the 2nd stop. This 100 year old former FEC locomotive now runs on Vegetable Oil.

Vegetable Power! The former FEC 148, now USSC 148 arriving in Clewiston, fueled by vegetable oil.

USSC 148 simmers in the sun as the crew goes about adding water to the tender. Santa Claus is busy talking with all the children that came to see the train, and the US Marine Corps are unloaded bo... (more)

The first USSC Christmas train led by USSC 148 chugs towards their next stop, Belle Glade

A USSC Bryant turn passes the 1st annual USSC Christmas train as it sits at the Belle Glade stop giving toys out to local kids with 148 in the lead.

The Toys for Tots Santa Express chuffs out of Clewiston in glorious sunshine after the 2nd stop. US Sugar could not ask for better publicity than what this train brought to the area.

The former FEC 148, now USSC 148 arrives at Moore Haven to prep for the first Santa Express train.

USSC 4-6-2 148 takes the Toys for Tots Sugar Express through South Bay on their journey to Belle Glade and later a remote Martin County stop. The previous shot at Miami Canal and this shot here in... (more)

Christmas Florida Style! U.S. Sugar's first annual Santa Express steams out of Moore Haven. Toys were given out by Santa and the US Marines at various stops along the way.