The Flickr Pahokee Image Generatr

A 1930's Florida East Coast wrecker train rusts away in Bryant as the Florida Adventures in Railroading Crew works on their collection in the background. Florida Adventures in Railroading is a nonprofit working on the creation of a new railroad museum in Port Orange, FL at the historic FEC passenger depot. The caboose and MoW boxcar were repainted over the weekend in preparation for a move over the SCFE and FEC to Port Orange, where they will be transferred to a display track by the depot. The three pieces of equipment in the foreground were stored at Bryant for over eight years after an unsuccessful restoration attempt in Fort Pierce, where they sat alongside FEC #253 (which has been sold and put on display in Alabama). They were all scrapped two days after this photo was taken.

Lake Okeechobee

Spanish name : Clematis florida
English name : Asian virginsbower or passion flower clematis
Nom botanique : Clematis florida

The Sugar Express' rare mileage train pauses on the Bryant Yard lead to take on water. Today's excursion took passengers along the FEC K Branch on the east side of Lake Okeechobee. Taken January 21st, 2024.

One more shot of the 148 returning to her Train with a tropical reminder. Video from my chase: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n54Srmq1s4

With the water stop complete, the 148 crosses back over US-98 and towards her awaiting Train on the K Branch. Video from my chase: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n54Srmq1s4

We now view the engine from the front. Video from my chase: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n54Srmq1s4

Another shot of the Train returning towards the main and her awaiting Train. Video from my chase: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n54Srmq1s4

A shot of the 148 as a whole. We are set up along the entrance road into Bryant Yard. Video from my chase: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n54Srmq1s4

One more shot of her backing clear of the crossing. Video from my chase: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n54Srmq1s4

A shot of the tender as to crew members prepare to hook up the water hose. Video from my chase: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n54Srmq1s4

The 148 fixes to clear the crossing and pull to a stop. Video from my chase: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n54Srmq1s4

A closer shot of the 148 atop the crossing. She is being flagged across US-98 on account of the crossing signals being turned off. Until 2021 Clewiston Based Cane Jobs utilIzed this lead track to access Bryant Yard. Once in it, Cane Jobs would then stage their inbound empties and pick up loads before shoving back out to the K Branch for the run to the mill. Meanwhile Another Job would grab the empties and take them onto either one of two major industrial leads that branched north and south from the yard. The 19 mile north lead served a number of cane loadouts alongside the nearby L-8 Canal. The 10 mile south lead meanwhile served other loadouts situated east of Pahokee and Belle Glade. In late 2021 U.S. Sugar completed construction on a brand new 11 mile route that links the South Lead mentioned previously with their “U” Branch from Clewiston west of US-27 near South Bay. With both of these lines linked together, it creates a bypass around South Bay and Belle Glade while also providing a more direct link for Cane Trains to reach the Bryant Area Loadouts. As of when i’m posting this, all of USSC’s remaining Bryant Cane Jobs have been rerouted over to this new line. Bryant Yard has also been closed due to the Cane cars no longer needing to be staged before reaching the loadouts. In general these changes have left the K Branch with only two Trains on most days. These being the Fort Pierce Turn and a Clewiston Based local that switches industries in the Belle Glade Area. However this may change in the future as well with supposed rumors recently circulating regarding the FEC revoking their long term lease of the K Branch to the SCFE. Video from my chase: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n54Srmq1s4

During my chase of the AAPRCO Sugarland Limited along the South Central Florida Express on Sunday April 24th 2022, we find the 148 reversing across East Main Street (US-98/441) at Bryant near Canal Point. She has been detached from the passenger consist, visible behind the brush in the background, and will stop past the crossing in-order to take on water. Video from my chase: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n54Srmq1s4