Illinois Central #7

Builder: Pullman
Built: 1917
Type: Office Car
Status: Operational

Illinois Central office car No. 7 is one of two historic luxury office cars at the Monticello Railway Museum. Built by the Pullman Company for the Illinois Central (IC) Railroad in 1917, this car was used alongside several other office cars owned by the IC to transport railroad executives, celebrities, politicians, and other important passengers in style all over the IC’s system.

The car features a lounge area with comfortable seats, two bedrooms, restrooms, a dining room and a kitchen, making it a true “hotel on rails.” When it was in regular service, it even had its own attendant to take care of the passengers.

Following retirement by the Illinois Central, No. 7 was sold into private ownership and for a time operated on the Wisconsin & Calumet Railroad out of Janesville, Wisconsin. It was acquired by a member of the Monticello Railway Museum in 1995, and was restored to operating condition soon after its arrival at the museum. Today, it is the pride and joy of our operating passenger car fleet, and is typically used during special events.