Sugar Express Miami Locks Ice Cream Train

This weekend I got the chance to ride the Miami Locks Ice Cream Train with 148 for the second time. For some reason the Fort Oglethorpe 664 coach was not on the consist, and the train was completely booked. 148 also got its Lonergan 3 chime whistle back as well. Right as I arrived at the boarding point an SCFE cane train led by 506 passed the shops. While riding the train we happened to pass three cane trains, with 502, 6341, and 407. The ex-SP SD40-2 6341 was allocated to one of those USSC cane jobs, and I couldn’t manage to catch off the train (though it passed again while the 4:30 excursion was ongoing). After the ride I set up at Miami Canal to see the 4:30 trip turn around. It had the diesel 409 leading, and on the return trip 148 was leading. 409 has flashing LED ditch lights, which is a new feature for US Sugar engines. It suddenly got very windy as rain came, so the audio isn’t too great, but I’m still pleased I got to see 148 again.