Illinois Central 121 (IC #121) was a diesel streamliner built in 1936 by Pullman-Standard and powered by Electro-Motive Corporation, which was used by the Illinois Central Railroad on the Green Diamond. Its fixed five-car consist was also the end of an era; the popularity of the early streamliners was their undoing, because the trains could not be lengthened or shortened to handle varying loads. It was the last streamliner built with the power car articulated with the train; future streamliners featured a matched but separable locomotive. The train was painted in a two-tone green livery, "Cypress Green" on the nose and below the window sills with "Cedar Green" above, separated by an aluminum strip. Extensive aluminum trim was applied.

Consist

The train's fixed consist was:

  • Car 121: Power car including driving cab, Winton 201-A 16-cylinder engine and generator, auxiliary generator, and train heating boiler. Below the floor, the first truck was powered, but the second, articulated with the second car, was not. A fuel tank was also mounted between the trucks.
  • Car 122: Storage, Baggage and Mail car of which approximately half was the mail compartment.
  • Car 123: Coach including conductor's office, seating 56.
  • Car 124: Coach including restrooms, seating 60.
  • Car 125: Diner-Lounge-Observation including restrooms, kitchen, dining area seating 8, and observation lounge seating 20.

All passenger-carrying cars were air-conditioned, with radio communication between them. Full width rubber diaphragms joined the cars, and all cars were articulated (sharing a truck with the neighboring car).

Operation

thumb|right|upright=1.0|A 1936 postcard promoting the Illinois Central's streamlined Green Diamond

IC 121 operated the Green Diamond service between 1936&ndash;1947. The Green Diamond began each morning with an 8:55 <small>AM</small> departure as Train 50 from St. Louis Union Station, arriving at IC's Central Station in Chicago at 1:50 <small>PM</small>. The train was then turned and serviced, for a 5:00 <small>PM</small> return as Train 51, arriving back in St. Louis by 9:55 <small>PM</small>.