Between 1880 and 1890, the Illinois Central purchased a total of 18 Forneys with a 2-4-4T wheel arrangement for suburban service in Chicago. These were made up of two classes that only differed in details and weight. These were six class 213 locomotives built by Rogers in 1880 and twelve class 223 locomotives built directly by the Illinois Central in the Paducah Shops beginning in 1885.

Since the class 223 was heavier than the class 213, the older locomotives were rebuilt in a similar manner. The suburban lines were electrified between 1926 and 1932, which led to the locomotives being transferred to switching service. However, it only took until 1935 for all to be retired. Preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum is 201, originally numbered 213 and participating in the 1893 Columbian Exposition.

The first Mikados ordered by the Illinois Central from Lima was the class 1701. Lima manufactured part in 1915 and 1916, with the remainder being supplied by Lima and Baldwin in 1918 and 1919. They were largely similar to the class 1501 and 1551 locomotives.

In 1931, the firebox of number 1742 was modified. It received two thermic siphons and a brick arch. This increased the overall efficiency of the boiler by 8.47 percent, so that at least 50 other machines were rebuilt in the same form in the following years.

The class A-1 of the Illinois Central consisted of 50 2-8-4 superpower locomotives which were based on the Lima A-1 demonstrator. 50 were completed in 1926 with 7000 to 7039 having an Elesco feedwater heater and 7040 to 7049 having a Worthington BL. The IC also bought the demonstrator from Lima and numbered it 7050. The crews called them “Big Mikes” since they were like Mikados with a larger firebox thanks to the two-axle trailing truck.

But since they were based off the Berkshire's prototype, they were not without flaws. One was the rough riding above 40 mph, what sometimes even made the reverser gear suddenly jumping into the full forward position. Another problem was the trailing truck tending to derail when running backwards, what was also observed on other locomotives with a two-axle trailing truck.

In 1937, the IC had the plan to convert all its 2-8-4 into larger-drivered 4-6-4 locomotives for express freight service. So 7038 was rebuilt in this way, with the type E superheater being replaced by a type A that was easier to maintain. But due to insufficient adhesion it remained the only one. Instead, all others were rebuilt in 1939 without changing their wheel arrangement.

In this process, their numbers were increased by 1000 and the changes in the boiler were the same as in 7038. The boiler pressure was increased from 240 to 265 psi, while the bore of the cylinders was decreased from 28 to 27 inches. Additionally, the load on the trailing truck was decreased and the booster was removed. Some even lost their thermic syphons in exchange for circulators. In this form, they were retired between 1948 and 1956 and all were scrapped.