The Illinois Central made its first move into streamlining with the articulated Green Diamond of 1936, which IC proudly billed as the first standard-size diesel-powered streamliner. The five-car trainset, built of Cor-Ten steel by Pullman-Standard, featured a full 1200 hp power car, a dedicated mail and baggage car, two coaches, and a diner/parlor/observation car whose kitchen was in the forward portion of the observation car but whose tables were split between the front of the parlor section and the rear of one of the coaches. All told, this combination had a capacity for 100 coach passengers and 18 parlor car (first class) passengers. I.C. placed it in service between Chicago and St. Louis, making one round trip a day on a hot 4 hour 55 minute (one way) schedule, on May 17, 1936.


From the pages of the Official Guide, September 1938

Illinois Central RR herald

The Green Diamond

Illinois Central Railroad
June, 1938

51 Train Number 50
Daily Miles ServicesDaily
5 00P Dp 0.0 Chicago, IL (Central Sta.) (CT) T C Ar 1 50P
5 07P 5.1 Chicago, IL (53rd St.) T C 1 43P
5 10P 6.5 Chicago, IL (63rd St.) T C 1 39P
5 51P 54.4 Kankakee, IL T C 12 51P
108.5 Gibson City, IL T C 12 03P
7 08P Ar 147.1 Clinton, IL T CDp 11 31A
7 10P Dp Ar 11 29A
7 29P 167.6 Mt. Pulaski, IL (See Note) T C
7 55P 191.8 Springfield, IL (5th & Madison St. Sta.) T C 10 47A
F 9 45P St. Louis, MO (Washington Ave.) F 9 02A
9 55P Ar 294.2 St. Louis, MO (Union Sta.) (CT) T C Dp 8 55A

Train 51: 7 stops, 4:55, 59.8 MPHTrain 50: 7 stops, 4:55, 59.8 MPH

NOTE: No extra fare. All seats on the Green Diamond are numbered for advance reservations.

NOTE for No. 51 at Mt. Pulaski: Regular stop week-days; on Sunday stops only on flag to receive or discharge revenue passengers to or from regular stops.


Illinois Central System

PASSENGER TRAIN EQUIPMENT

SOUTHBOUND—Coaches on all trains, except as otherwise indicated.

No. 51—GREEN DIAMOND. Daily
Chicago to St. Louis
Diesel-Electric Articulated Streamline Train
No extra fare. All seats are numbered for advance reservations.
Air-Conditioned Train throughout

(Stewardess—Registered Nurse)

Diner-Lounge Car (Parlor Car) (Air-Conditioned)Chicago to St. Louis.

Chair-Buffet Car (Air-Conditioned)—Chicago to St. Louis.

Chair Car (Air-Conditioned)Chicago to St. Louis.

(Radio in every car.)


NORTHBOUND—Coaches on all trains, except as otherwise indicated.

No. 50—GREEN DIAMOND. Daily
St. Louis to Chicago
Diesel-Electric Articulated Streamline Train
No extra fare. All seats are numbered for advance reservations.
Air-Conditioned Train throughout

(Stewardess—Registered Nurse)

Diner-Lounge Car (Parlor Car) (Air-Conditioned)St. Louis to Chicago.

Chair-Buffet Car (Air-Conditioned)—St. Louis to Chicago.

Chair Car (Air-Conditioned)—St. Louis to Chicago.

(Radio in every car.)



Consist Information
Contributed by Alan L. Pettet

GREEN DIAMOND CONSIST

Ordered November 1934

Completed May 1936

Built By Pullman Standard

 

121 Articulated EMC 1,200 hp Diesel Cab Unit

122 Articulated Baggage 30’ Railway Post Office Car

123 Articulated 56 Revenue seat Coach

124 Articulated 44 Revenue seat Coach 16 seat Dinette Car

125 Articulated Kitchen 8 seat Dinette 18 Revenue seat Parlor 4 seat Lounge Observation



The Green Diamond shared the same drawback of all articulated streamliners: lack of flexibility. The fixed consist could not easily be expanded to accommodate demand. And, as IC did not replace it before passenger car production was shut down for the war effort in 1942, the five-car trainset was forced to serve in its role for the duration. In 1947, after war's end, the original articulated Green Diamond was replaced by new equipment of more conventional construction. The old train continued to serve into 1950 as the Jackson, Mississippi-New Orleans Miss Lou, but shortly thereafter - reportedly due to recurring mechanical problems - it was scrapped.