The morning of Thursday, November 9th, 2023 saw me take a day trip to south-central Florida’s sugar country around Lake Okeechobee to take a gander at chasing South Central Florida Express’ “Sebring Turn” in hopes of seeing U.S. Sugar’s latest locomotive acquisition in service. USSC 6323 had been delivered from Western Rail, Inc. [WRIX] not long before my trip, becoming the second active EMD SD40 on USSC’s roster—with a third SD40 due for delivery soon. I was tipped off that the 6323, paired with HLCX 6341—yes, THAT unit—were handling the Sebring Turns for the week, prompting me to make the drive to test my luck.

Some fourty minutes after the crew went on-duty, the SCFE Sebring Turn [SBT-09] exits the Clewiston Yard Limits at the MP 946, paralleling an unnamed irrigation canal and the Sugarland Canal [out of view on the west side] prior to crossing over US 27 at grade. #USSC6323 [SD40-2] and #HLCX6341 [SD40R], back to back as advertised, power the Turn out of town, starting their 68 mile journey north to Sebring, FL. All 39 cars part of SBT-08’s consist are visible in the frame, comprised of tank cars and assorted covered hoppers.

U.S. Sugar’s acquisition of two EMD SD40-type locomotives from Western Rail, Inc. came as no big surprise, taking into consideration that the railroad had been leasing HLCX 6341 for months beforehand [note: still operating on USSC as of Feb. 2024], along with insider sources echoing rumors of new motive power potentially being looked in to. The need for improved motive power is a rite countless railroads go through. For U.S. Sugar, it finally meant acquiring their very first six-axle diesel-electric locomotives, potentially marking a new era of operations for the railroad.

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Clewiston, FL

SCFE Sebring Subdivision

Date: 11/09/2023 | 08:38

ID: SCFE Sebring Turn [SBT-09]

Type: Local

Direction: Westbound

Car Count: 39

1. USSC SD40-2 #6323

2. HLCX SD40R #6341

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© Vicente Alonso 2023