ABOUT THIS SITE:
The "DETROIT TRANSIT HISTORY.info" website is my attempt at trying to accurately portray the City of Detroit's rich long history
in the public transportation arena. Although Southeastern Michigan's current offering of rapid or mass transit leaves much to be desired, the
city's former municipally owned and operated transit system — known then as the Department of Street Railways (DSR) — was at one
time a proud, reliable, and respectable leader within the public transit industry.
During better years, the Detroit owned system served a population of nearly two-million, carried over 400,000,000 riders annually, and
operated with a streetcar and motor bus fleet of well over 2,800 vehicles. The department entered the post–WWII years operating with a
fleet of over 900 streetcars on 19 streetcar routes, and just under 1,900 buses along 48 bus routes. Almost unbelivable, when compared
with the current city-owned transit system's fleet of just under 550 assigned coaches operating along forty bus routes. This site will look at
both the past highs and lows of public transit in Detroit.
In addition, it is hoped that this website will not only serve as an informational tool, but also as a research tool when used in conjunction with
other sources devoted to the history of public transportation in Detroit. Of course, it can also be just a way to help you along that journey
down memory lane.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Of course, a history-based website wouldn't be successful without the assistance, contribution and support of others. I would like to take a
moment to acknowledge those individuals who've helped to make this website possible.
First my good friend DeJuan D. McIntosh, whose hours of assistance in helping me put this site together was a blessing. His creativity and
computer know–how eliminated those painstakingly extra hours more I would have had to spend sitting in front of my computer uploading
and transferring volumes of information I've put together over the years. Even those times when I dragged him along to the Detroit Public
Library, spending hours researching related information, he went along without a complaint. THANKS SO MUCH BRUH!!
Also, I'd like to thank DDOT coach operator Abe Simmons, for all those technical support tips during the early stages of this project, and
DDOT coach operator—and good friend— Karl A. Marshall, for all that bus fleet information which will prove so useful as this site develops.
And of course, DDOT Senior Service Inspector Dennis Grooms, whom I've had to come to on numerous occasions for his knowledge of
the old DSR and early DDOT bus routes from 'back in the day.'
Obviously, a transit history website could not be successful without having those great friends who've collected transit–related memorabilia
down through the years. I'd like to thank Stanley (Stan) Sycko for letting me borrow his extensive newspaper collection of Detroit transit
related articles, some dating back to the 1960's; and for sharing his extensive DSR transfer and bus schedule collection; passing along old
DSR bus photos; and lending the moral support to get this thing going. And then there's local transit historian and author Kenneth (Ken)
Schramm (along with his father, the late Jack E. Schramm) — whose numerous articles, photos, videos, and books they've passed along
to me through the years, and just our plain conversations, have greatly assisted this project.
Last, but not least, I can't forget my co-workers, fellow supervisors, and upper management personnel at the Detroit Department of
Transportation (D-DOT), who've over the years passed along DDOT related artifacts to add to my modest (but growing) transit archive
collection. Although too numerous to mention everyone here,...a big THANK YOU to you all!
RESEARCH MATERIAL:
A number of books, articles, newspaper clippings, websites, and trips to the Detroit Public Library all helped to contribute to this website.
But a few publications are well worth noting here. The following books and publications were used to gather information for this site and
are valuable research materials for those interested in obtaining further assistance on the subjects covered on this website.
A HISTORY OF THE DETROIT STREET RAILWAYS
by Graeme O'Geran, Ph. D. (The Conover Press, © 1931)
DETROIT'S STREET RAILWAYS Volume I: City Lines 1863–1922
by Jack E. Schramm and William H. Henning (Bulletin 117 of Central Electric Railfans' Association)
DETROIT'S STREET RAILWAYS Volume II: City Lines 1922–1956
by Jack E, Schramm, William H. Henning and Thomas J. Dworman (Bulletin 120 of Central Electric Railfans' Association)
DETROIT MOTORBUS CO.
by Jack E. Schramm (Motor Coach Age magazine, Sept. 1988 edition)
DETROIT'S DSR, Part 1
by Jack E. Schramm (Motor Coach Age magazine, Jan-Feb 1991 edition)
DETROIT'S DSR, Part 2
by Jack E. Schramm (Motor Coach Age magazine, Mar-Apr 1992 edition)
DETROIT'S DSR, Part 3
by Jack E. Schramm (Motor Coach Age magazine, May-Jun 1993 edition)
SEMTA and SMART
by Robert L. Campbell and Jack E. Schramm (Motor Coach Age magazine, Oct-Dec 2003 edition)
DETROIT'S STREET RAILWAYS (Images of Rail)
by Kenneth Schramm (Arcadia Publishing, © 2006)
The "DETROIT TRANSIT HISTORY.info" website is my attempt at trying to accurately portray the City of Detroit's rich long history
in the public transportation arena. Although Southeastern Michigan's current offering of rapid or mass transit leaves much to be desired, the
city's former municipally owned and operated transit system — known then as the Department of Street Railways (DSR) — was at one
time a proud, reliable, and respectable leader within the public transit industry.
During better years, the Detroit owned system served a population of nearly two-million, carried over 400,000,000 riders annually, and
operated with a streetcar and motor bus fleet of well over 2,800 vehicles. The department entered the post–WWII years operating with a
fleet of over 900 streetcars on 19 streetcar routes, and just under 1,900 buses along 48 bus routes. Almost unbelivable, when compared
with the current city-owned transit system's fleet of just under 550 assigned coaches operating along forty bus routes. This site will look at
both the past highs and lows of public transit in Detroit.
In addition, it is hoped that this website will not only serve as an informational tool, but also as a research tool when used in conjunction with
other sources devoted to the history of public transportation in Detroit. Of course, it can also be just a way to help you along that journey
down memory lane.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Of course, a history-based website wouldn't be successful without the assistance, contribution and support of others. I would like to take a
moment to acknowledge those individuals who've helped to make this website possible.
First my good friend DeJuan D. McIntosh, whose hours of assistance in helping me put this site together was a blessing. His creativity and
computer know–how eliminated those painstakingly extra hours more I would have had to spend sitting in front of my computer uploading
and transferring volumes of information I've put together over the years. Even those times when I dragged him along to the Detroit Public
Library, spending hours researching related information, he went along without a complaint. THANKS SO MUCH BRUH!!
Also, I'd like to thank DDOT coach operator Abe Simmons, for all those technical support tips during the early stages of this project, and
DDOT coach operator—and good friend— Karl A. Marshall, for all that bus fleet information which will prove so useful as this site develops.
And of course, DDOT Senior Service Inspector Dennis Grooms, whom I've had to come to on numerous occasions for his knowledge of
the old DSR and early DDOT bus routes from 'back in the day.'
Obviously, a transit history website could not be successful without having those great friends who've collected transit–related memorabilia
down through the years. I'd like to thank Stanley (Stan) Sycko for letting me borrow his extensive newspaper collection of Detroit transit
related articles, some dating back to the 1960's; and for sharing his extensive DSR transfer and bus schedule collection; passing along old
DSR bus photos; and lending the moral support to get this thing going. And then there's local transit historian and author Kenneth (Ken)
Schramm (along with his father, the late Jack E. Schramm) — whose numerous articles, photos, videos, and books they've passed along
to me through the years, and just our plain conversations, have greatly assisted this project.
Last, but not least, I can't forget my co-workers, fellow supervisors, and upper management personnel at the Detroit Department of
Transportation (D-DOT), who've over the years passed along DDOT related artifacts to add to my modest (but growing) transit archive
collection. Although too numerous to mention everyone here,...a big THANK YOU to you all!
RESEARCH MATERIAL:
A number of books, articles, newspaper clippings, websites, and trips to the Detroit Public Library all helped to contribute to this website.
But a few publications are well worth noting here. The following books and publications were used to gather information for this site and
are valuable research materials for those interested in obtaining further assistance on the subjects covered on this website.
A HISTORY OF THE DETROIT STREET RAILWAYS
by Graeme O'Geran, Ph. D. (The Conover Press, © 1931)
DETROIT'S STREET RAILWAYS Volume I: City Lines 1863–1922
by Jack E. Schramm and William H. Henning (Bulletin 117 of Central Electric Railfans' Association)
DETROIT'S STREET RAILWAYS Volume II: City Lines 1922–1956
by Jack E, Schramm, William H. Henning and Thomas J. Dworman (Bulletin 120 of Central Electric Railfans' Association)
DETROIT MOTORBUS CO.
by Jack E. Schramm (Motor Coach Age magazine, Sept. 1988 edition)
DETROIT'S DSR, Part 1
by Jack E. Schramm (Motor Coach Age magazine, Jan-Feb 1991 edition)
DETROIT'S DSR, Part 2
by Jack E. Schramm (Motor Coach Age magazine, Mar-Apr 1992 edition)
DETROIT'S DSR, Part 3
by Jack E. Schramm (Motor Coach Age magazine, May-Jun 1993 edition)
SEMTA and SMART
by Robert L. Campbell and Jack E. Schramm (Motor Coach Age magazine, Oct-Dec 2003 edition)
DETROIT'S STREET RAILWAYS (Images of Rail)
by Kenneth Schramm (Arcadia Publishing, © 2006)
| This site began on May 20, 2006, launched on July 19, 2006, by life-long Detroiter, retired transit worker and bus enthusiast, H.B.Craig,II P.O. Box 21022, — Detroit, MI. 48221 email address: admin@detroittransithistory.info (This web-page was first updated on July 8, 2006 - modified on January 2, 2008) |
| (1900–1922) |
| DETROIT MOTORBUS COMPANY |
| (1920–1931) |
| MUNICIPAL OPERATION |
| (1921–1922) |
| DEPARTMENT OF STREET RAILWAYS |
| (1922–1974) |
| DETROIT UNITED RAILWAY |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| | | | | | | | |
| DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION |
| (1974–PRESENT) |
| Welcome to "DetroitTransitHistory.info" – The web-site which takes a look back at the History of Public Transportation in and around the City of Detroit. |
| TO DETROIT TRANSIT HISTORY ON-LINE |
| Search Site: |
| Search Site: |
© 2006 (PAGE LAST UPDATED ON 05-05-10)
ATTENTION VISITORS: If you have any photos to share that you feel will enhance the content of this website, or you have additional information
and/or a correction to pass along, feel free to contact me at: detbusfan@detroittransithistory.info
and/or a correction to pass along, feel free to contact me at: detbusfan@detroittransithistory.info
