Illinois Traction Sleeper Cars

Sleeper Cars

In 1906, the Illinois Traction System set a new standard for electric travel when they debuted their first sleeper cars. Sleepers had long been a service on steam trains but not on interurbans. 

The cars were marketed as the "Illini", serving Champaign to St. Louis, and the "Owl", with service between Peoria and St. Louis. One feature for early arriving cars was that passengers could remain asleep in their bunk at the station until daybreak when they would presented with hot rolls and coffee.