| DETROIT'S DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES |
| Between November 1926 and early 1927 a fleet of fifty (50) gas-electric double-decker buses, built by the American Car & Foundry Company (ACF), were delivered to the DSR. These sixty-passenger buses were placed into service on heavy lines such as John R. and Chalmers. An unfortunate mishap would remove their upper decks by 1930. (DSR files photo) |
No doubt most, if not all, have at one time or another viewed photos of London, England, or other cities across the United
Kingdom, and couldn't help but notice all those double-decker buses darting along their roads and highways. But perhaps
the most familiar model double-decker bus of recent time are the famous red-colored London Routemaster buses. The
Routemasters were very popular with Londoners and tourists alike, and have become one of the famous icons of London.
Sadly though, the last of the London Routemaster buses were retired from regular service in December of 2005, and were
replaced by -- you guessed it -- a new fleet of red double-decker buses!
Although still quite popular in a number of cities across Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, and even in Hong Kong, the use of
double-deckers here in North America has been quite limited. However, many might be surprised to learn that at one time
double-decker buses actually operated along the streets of Detroit.
Kingdom, and couldn't help but notice all those double-decker buses darting along their roads and highways. But perhaps
the most familiar model double-decker bus of recent time are the famous red-colored London Routemaster buses. The
Routemasters were very popular with Londoners and tourists alike, and have become one of the famous icons of London.
Sadly though, the last of the London Routemaster buses were retired from regular service in December of 2005, and were
replaced by -- you guessed it -- a new fleet of red double-decker buses!
Although still quite popular in a number of cities across Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, and even in Hong Kong, the use of
double-deckers here in North America has been quite limited. However, many might be surprised to learn that at one time
double-decker buses actually operated along the streets of Detroit.
| |||||||
The first double-decker
buses to operate along
Detroit streets were
operated by the former
Detroit Motorbus Co.
— the privately-owned
bus company which
operated within the city
from 1920 thru 1932.
The double-deckers first
began operating on the
company's flagship line,
E. Jefferson, but soon
saw service on many of
their other lines as DMB
routes expanded out to
farther parts of the city.
The company's Cass
Avenue-Second Blvd,
buses to operate along
Detroit streets were
operated by the former
Detroit Motorbus Co.
— the privately-owned
bus company which
operated within the city
from 1920 thru 1932.
The double-deckers first
began operating on the
company's flagship line,
E. Jefferson, but soon
saw service on many of
their other lines as DMB
routes expanded out to
farther parts of the city.
The company's Cass
Avenue-Second Blvd,
|
Since the Detroit Motorbus double-deckers proved to be popular
with Detroiters, the city-owned DSR decided to buy a fleet of its
own double-decker buses. However, the first double-deckers for
the DSR were actually 'leased' from the DUR's People's Motor
Coach Co. Beginning in July 1926, seven of the DUR's two-man
open-top Yellow Coach double-deckers were leased by the DSR
for peak-hour use on the DSR's busy John R. and Conant lines.
That same year, a fifty coach DSR order went to a local builder,
the American Car & Foundry Company, and the buses were
built at the company's Detroit railway car plant, located on Russell
and Ferry streets. The enclosed upper deck ACF coaches, model
519-4-F1, were sixty-passenger gas-electric double-deckers, and
were numbered #501-550. These were the first buses built by
American Car & Foundry, and the only double-decker coaches
ever built by that company.
The fleet began arriving in November 1926, and were assigned to
a number of the department's more heavy lines. Seventeen were
assigned to the Second Avenue Garage for service on the heavy
John R. line (which serviced the Ford Highland Park auto plant),
and the Conant line. The remainder of the DSR double-deckers
were assigned to the Kercheval Garage for service on both the
Cadillac and Jefferson Express routes, and the Chalmers line.
The DSR operated these coaches using a one-man operation.
However, a mishap occurred during the summer of 1927 which
would change the future of double-decker bus service in Detroit.
It seems that the driver of one of the ACF coaches tried to enter
Belle Isle through the Jefferson Avenue underpass on East Grand
Blvd., after forgetting that he was driving a double-decker coach.
with Detroiters, the city-owned DSR decided to buy a fleet of its
own double-decker buses. However, the first double-deckers for
the DSR were actually 'leased' from the DUR's People's Motor
Coach Co. Beginning in July 1926, seven of the DUR's two-man
open-top Yellow Coach double-deckers were leased by the DSR
for peak-hour use on the DSR's busy John R. and Conant lines.
That same year, a fifty coach DSR order went to a local builder,
the American Car & Foundry Company, and the buses were
built at the company's Detroit railway car plant, located on Russell
and Ferry streets. The enclosed upper deck ACF coaches, model
519-4-F1, were sixty-passenger gas-electric double-deckers, and
were numbered #501-550. These were the first buses built by
American Car & Foundry, and the only double-decker coaches
ever built by that company.
The fleet began arriving in November 1926, and were assigned to
a number of the department's more heavy lines. Seventeen were
assigned to the Second Avenue Garage for service on the heavy
John R. line (which serviced the Ford Highland Park auto plant),
and the Conant line. The remainder of the DSR double-deckers
were assigned to the Kercheval Garage for service on both the
Cadillac and Jefferson Express routes, and the Chalmers line.
The DSR operated these coaches using a one-man operation.
However, a mishap occurred during the summer of 1927 which
would change the future of double-decker bus service in Detroit.
It seems that the driver of one of the ACF coaches tried to enter
Belle Isle through the Jefferson Avenue underpass on East Grand
Blvd., after forgetting that he was driving a double-decker coach.
|
Information for the above article was complied from various sources, including numerous Motor Bus Society Motor Coach Age magazine
articles written by Jack E. Schramm, including "Detroit's DSR, Part 1" (January-February 1991 edition), and "Detroit Motorbus Co."
(September 1988 edition). In addition, coach fleet information was obtained from various Schramm Collection DSR fleet roster listings.
articles written by Jack E. Schramm, including "Detroit's DSR, Part 1" (January-February 1991 edition), and "Detroit Motorbus Co."
(September 1988 edition). In addition, coach fleet information was obtained from various Schramm Collection DSR fleet roster listings.
FOR RELATED TOPIC SEE: DETROIT MOTORBUS COMPANY
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John R. St.-Grand Blvd, and the heavy Dexter Blvd-Cass lines were all assigned double-decker buses.
The first fleet of DMB double-decker coaches were built by the Fifth Avenue Coach Company, and originally came with
open-top upper decks. Eventually, they were later semi-enclosed with new tops, with a canvas covering added during the
winter. Additional fleets of double-deckers were later purchased from Yellow Coach and the Six-Wheel Company.
The first fleet of DMB double-decker coaches were built by the Fifth Avenue Coach Company, and originally came with
open-top upper decks. Eventually, they were later semi-enclosed with new tops, with a canvas covering added during the
winter. Additional fleets of double-deckers were later purchased from Yellow Coach and the Six-Wheel Company.
Needless to say, the coach suffered upper deck damage and was soon reduced to a single-decker.
This redesigned coach would evidently serve as the model for the others. Due to poor design and construction, the ACF
fleet began to encounter problems, ranging from cracked upper deck windows to broken body posts. Consequently, the
DSR had to invest $12,050 to redesign the remainder of the fleet. Between February 18, 1929 and October 1, 1930, the
upper decks were removed from the entire ACF fleet, resulting in 31-passenger single-deck coaches. The last of the ACF
converted single-decker buses would continue on in service until 1937.
This redesigned coach would evidently serve as the model for the others. Due to poor design and construction, the ACF
fleet began to encounter problems, ranging from cracked upper deck windows to broken body posts. Consequently, the
DSR had to invest $12,050 to redesign the remainder of the fleet. Between February 18, 1929 and October 1, 1930, the
upper decks were removed from the entire ACF fleet, resulting in 31-passenger single-deck coaches. The last of the ACF
converted single-decker buses would continue on in service until 1937.
| DETROIT TRANSIT HISTORY |
| DETROIT TRANSIT HISTORY |
| The web-site which takes a look back at the History of Public Transportation in and around the City of Detroit. |
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