Framing40s
The Odd Tourist
A clear blue sky drapes over South Bay, FL on the southern banks of Lake Okeechobee as the city is awoken by the presence of a South Central Florida Express train barreling over the North New River Canal on a morning run. Despite it being essentially peak sugar cane harvest season, the train passing through town would be the SCFE Fort Pierce Turn [FPT-31], the weekday turn job in charge of handling local and interchange traffic from Clewiston to Fort Pierce and back, connecting with the Florida East Coast Railway in the namesake city. A majority of the traffic handled by this turn job is processed raw sugar and byproducts from the sugar processing that is completed at U.S. Sugar’s mill in Clewiston, transported in assorted covered hoppers and grain cars.
Leading the turn job east through town at 08:50 would be #HLCX6341, a former Southern Pacific SD40R under ownership of the Helm Financial Corporation, a locomotive and railcar operating leasing company. Out of the entire HLCX SD40 roster, the 6341 has the distinction of retaining its original SP scarlet red and lark grey paint job, although its lettering has been painted over for a number of years. Despite its modifications through its 57 year lifespan—and counting—it stands as out as a highly sought-after locomotive amongst the most dedicated North American railroad photographers.
U.S. Sugar received the locomotive in late 2022 as leased power for use on their turn jobs and cane trains, and appeared to be fulfilling that duty well through the eyes of me and Dylan S. on the morning of January 31st. It was previously sighted operating on Sugar Road Jobs out of Clewiston weeks prior, which wouldve have made for some unique scenes, but a run up to Fort Pierce on the more scenic K-Branch was just the perfect stroke of luck I needed. Leasers like these are few and far between in Florida, although it’s not the first time SP power has roamed the rails of the Sunshine State.
•
South Bay, FL
SCFE Fort Pierce Subdivision
Date: 01/31/2023 | 08:50
ID: SCFE FPT-31
Type: Local/Turn Job
Direction: Eastbound
Car Count: 14
1. HLCX SD40R #6341
•
© Vicente Alonso 2023
The Odd Tourist
A clear blue sky drapes over South Bay, FL on the southern banks of Lake Okeechobee as the city is awoken by the presence of a South Central Florida Express train barreling over the North New River Canal on a morning run. Despite it being essentially peak sugar cane harvest season, the train passing through town would be the SCFE Fort Pierce Turn [FPT-31], the weekday turn job in charge of handling local and interchange traffic from Clewiston to Fort Pierce and back, connecting with the Florida East Coast Railway in the namesake city. A majority of the traffic handled by this turn job is processed raw sugar and byproducts from the sugar processing that is completed at U.S. Sugar’s mill in Clewiston, transported in assorted covered hoppers and grain cars.
Leading the turn job east through town at 08:50 would be #HLCX6341, a former Southern Pacific SD40R under ownership of the Helm Financial Corporation, a locomotive and railcar operating leasing company. Out of the entire HLCX SD40 roster, the 6341 has the distinction of retaining its original SP scarlet red and lark grey paint job, although its lettering has been painted over for a number of years. Despite its modifications through its 57 year lifespan—and counting—it stands as out as a highly sought-after locomotive amongst the most dedicated North American railroad photographers.
U.S. Sugar received the locomotive in late 2022 as leased power for use on their turn jobs and cane trains, and appeared to be fulfilling that duty well through the eyes of me and Dylan S. on the morning of January 31st. It was previously sighted operating on Sugar Road Jobs out of Clewiston weeks prior, which wouldve have made for some unique scenes, but a run up to Fort Pierce on the more scenic K-Branch was just the perfect stroke of luck I needed. Leasers like these are few and far between in Florida, although it’s not the first time SP power has roamed the rails of the Sunshine State.
•
South Bay, FL
SCFE Fort Pierce Subdivision
Date: 01/31/2023 | 08:50
ID: SCFE FPT-31
Type: Local/Turn Job
Direction: Eastbound
Car Count: 14
1. HLCX SD40R #6341
•
© Vicente Alonso 2023