| D.S.R. EQUIPMENT PHOTOS — 1960's |
| The transit vehicles displayed in this 1960's Gallery were purchased by the city-owned D.S.R. during the 1960's. Numerous fleets of GM "new-look" coaches were the primary vehicles purchased during that time. However, a small number of other makes also made their appearances as well—although one fleet of coaches didn't hang around too long. |
GM "NEW-LOOK" COACHES – MODEL TDH-5301
GM "NEW-LOOK" COACHES – MODEL TDH-5303
| ATTENTION: The "DetroitTransitHistory.info" web-site is in need of additional photos of the DSR "new-look" model TDH-5303. These would include b-&-w and/or color photos of any of the following series transit coaches manufactured by General Motors Truck & Coach: * The #2400 and #2500 series — both delivered in 1966 Of course photos of any additional DSR/DDOT new-look models (a.k.a. by some as "silver-sides" and "fishbowls") are also welcome. Any interior photos of these new-looks are needed as well. If you would like to share your photos on this web-site please contact the site-administrator at: detbusfan@detroittansithistory.info (proper credit source will be given to the photos if requested) |
| FOR MORE 1960'S DSR EQUIPMENT PHOTOS (PAGE 2) CLICK-ON "NEXT" (Below) |
| BACK TO THE 1950'S |
The 1960's for the Detroit DSR was
definitely the decade of the GMC
"New-Look" coach, as 941 of these
newly designed GM diesels were put
into service between 1960 and
1968. These coaches sported their
green with cream and silver-sided
color scheme design throughout the
remaining DSR years. The last of
the GM new-look coaches survived
well into the DDOT years.
definitely the decade of the GMC
"New-Look" coach, as 941 of these
newly designed GM diesels were put
into service between 1960 and
1968. These coaches sported their
green with cream and silver-sided
color scheme design throughout the
remaining DSR years. The last of
the GM new-look coaches survived
well into the DDOT years.
| In a controversial 105 coach order in 1965, the DSR, for the first time since 1950, split an order and purchased coaches from another manufacturer — the Flxible Corp. Eighty-five (85) coaches from that order (#2201-2285), including #2237 in the above photo, went to General Motors. These #2200-series GM's were delivered beginning in September of 1965. This fleet of 5303's also allowed the DSR to retire the last of its post-war gasoline powered Twin Coach buses, which were purchased back in 1946 and 1947. [photo courtesy of Tom's Trolley Bus Pix —Detroit DSR-DOT stuff] |
© 2006 (PAGE LAST MODIFIED ON 06-24-10 (additions 10-11-11, 10-15-11))
| With the #2100-series GMs, the DSR would continue with its retirement of its post-war gasoline powered Twin coaches, and gradually begin retiring the first of the smaller-size GM "old-look" diesels that were delivered in 1945 and 1947. The last ten coaches of this order (#2171-2180) came equipped with fiber seats, which used a perimeter bench-type seating arrangement. The "CHARTERED" sign being displayed on coach #2137's roll-sign curtain is reminiscent of the once lucrative Chartered Service Operation once provided by the DSR. [photo courtesy of the Krambles-Peterson archive collection: G. Mac Sebree photo] |
| In this 1969 photo, coach #2203 (one of eighty–five TDH-5303's purchased in 1965) is seen here eastbound along East Jefferson at Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit. Working the Jefferson line, the coach is headed for the Wayburn Loop, one block east of Alter Road. [photo courtesy of the Krambles-Peterson archive collection: G. Mac Sebree photo] |
| In 1963, GM announced that it had made over 40 improvements to its transit coach, resulting in the next generation of "New-Looks"—the Model TDH-5303. To most, the only visual changes were the use of the bullet shaped marker lights that replaced the art deco squared lights on the previous model, but a number of engineering improvements were also made. In Detroit, the GM take-over of the system also continued with this new model, as fifty TDH-5303's (#2041-2090) were delivered in October of 1963. These fleets of 5303's allowed the DSR to begin retiring its post-war gasoline powered Twin coaches purchased during the late forties. In this 1969 photo, coach #2061 can be seen at the Wayburn Loop at the eastern end of the E. Jefferson line. [photo courtesy of the Krambles-Peterson archive collection: G. Mac Sebree photo] |
| During the Summer of 1959, the DSR placed its first order for 50 of the newly-designed GM diesel transit coach. On January 22, 1960, the DSR accepted delivery of the first redesigned GM transit bus since 1940. Of the fifty coaches (#1601-1650) delivered that January, the first ten (#1601-1610) were air-conditioned (a Detroit first) and used primarily for Gray Line and Chartered runs. Coach #1632 (seen in photo posing at the DSR Highland Park Terminal) sports the rather plain looking DSR new-look paint scheme of green and cream with silver below the belt-line. The new-look coaches also ushered in the new slanted (forward-moving) "DSR" logo. [site-owner's collection photo, courtesy of the Schramm photo collection] |
| Coach #1699 is representative of that second order (#1651-1775) which were delivered between June and July of 1960. An additional 125 TDH-5301's (#1776-1900) were delivered between October and November of 1960. With 300 New-Looks now part of the fleet, the DSR was able to retire its post-war fleet of White and Mack coaches purchased during the late forties. Upon the arrival of 80 more 5301's (#1901-1980) in September and November of 1961, the DSR was able to replace the Twin Coach electric trolley-coaches on the Crosstown line. The last sixty TDH-5301's (#1981-2040) delivered in November of 1962, coincided with the elimination of the St. Louis Car Company built electric trackless trolley-coaches on the Grand River line. [GM Truck & Coach promotional photo courtesy of S. Sycko] |
| By the early sixties, GM new-look coaches had replaced the GM old-looks on the Woodward line—the DSR's premier route. DSR coach #1918 was one of 80 TDH-5301's delivered in the Fall of 1961, and representative of the forth "new-look" coach order for the DSR. In this July 1963 photo, coach #1918 is leaving the Fairgrounds Loop and about to head southbound on the Woodward line on its trip to downtown Detroit. Also note the Vita-Boy Potato Chip ad (a former Detroit-based company) that was often displayed on the front of DSR buses during that time. [Jim Husing Collection photo, courtesy of James Husing — see disclaimer below] |
| Many of the DSR's TDH-5301's and 5303's would survive well into the DDOT years, and former DSR coach #2076 was no exception. In this March 1978 photo, coach #2076 is westbound on Jefferson Avenue passing the City-County Building on the E. Jefferson line. At the time of this photo this coach had seen nearly fifteen years of service and now sported the DDOT logo. The last of the #2000-series TDH-5303's were retired in 1983, nearly 20 years after their delivery. [Melvin Bernero photo collection, courtesy of Melvin Bernero] |
| In November of 1966, twenty TDH-5303's (#2501-2520) were delivered to the DSR and used as replacements for twenty Flxible coaches purchased by the DSR in 1965 (see next page). These coaches were identical to the #2400-series 5303's delivered in September of 1966. In the above photo, coach #2510 is south on Woodward at Michigan in May of 1978 working the Fenkell line. [Melvin Bernero photo collection, courtesy of Melvin Bernero] |
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All Jim Husing Collection photos are posted with the permission of Mr. James Husing. Any distribution of photos for sale purposes is
prohibited.
prohibited.
| Beginning in September of 1966, 100 TDH-5303's (#2401-2500) were delivered to the DSR at a cost of $28,500 apiece. Purchased through part of a $10 million federal grant from HUD, these were the first fleet of DSR coaches to come equipped with 2-way radios and the first to display both route numbers and route names on their destination roll-sign curtains. In this April 3, 1974 photo, coach #2479 can be seen laying-over at the old DSR Cadillac Square loading station. Visible in the background is the Cadillac Tower Building (opened in 1927 as the Barlum Tower), and the abutting former Gregory, Mayer & Thom building (left) (now demolished). [photo courtesy of the Krambles-Peterson archive collection: George Krambles photo] |
(Click-on photo to view larger image)
| The DSR introduced these new ultra-modern GM buses to Detroiters by parading the coaches down Woodward Avenue, as seen in the above photo which looks north along Woodward near Larned. Promoted by General Motors as its "New-Look" design coach, three-hundred (300) of these coaches–Model TDH-5301–would be purchased by the DSR during that first year alone. Also note the "uncompleted" center median along Woodward Avenue at the time of photo. |
| HISTORY FOOTNOTE: By June of 1959, the first phase of the Woodward Avenue (Highway US-10) State Trunkline project had been completed with the addition of a tree-lined boulevard between Fort and Congress streets—-along-side the new National Bank of Detroit (now Chase Tower) Building. The second phase involved the widening of Woodward between Congress and Jefferson by the removal of the buildings along the west side of Woodward in 1959. Woodward was widen to 190 feet, with a center median added to provide a boulevard entry into the Civic Center area. The remainder of the boulevard had to await the completion of the Gas Company Building at Jefferson and was completed in 1962. [photo courtesy of the Carl D. Dutch collection: 1960 DSR Annual Report photo] |
(Click-on photo to view larger image)
| DSR coach #1896 was one of 125 TDH-5301's delivered in the Fall of 1960, and representative of the third "new-look"coach order for that year. Even though push-type rear doors were made standard on GM New-Looks, the DSR continued to opt for the optional four-piece "jackknife" folding rear door (visible in photo) until 1968. In this 1968 photo, the original rear-end styling is visible as coach #1896 is eastbound at a downtown DSR bus stop on Fort Street at Shelby. |
| HISTORY FOOTNOTE: The Crowley's flagship store visible in the background was comprised of two buildings that occupied two downtown blocks along Monroe Street. The eight-story West Building on the left (built in 1906) housed the main store and corporate offices, while an 11-story East Building annex on the right (built in 1920) housed the warehouses, an additional store featuring housewares, and more offices. The elaborate arched bridge-overpass (built in 1925) connected the two buildings across Library Street. After Crowley's closed on July 2, 1977, the two buildings were later demolished. |
| Coach #1647 is representative of the first fifty GM "New Looks" delivered in January 1960, and is seen here working the Michigan line some 14 years later. Enthusiasm by DSR management for these new GM coaches was quite high in 1960. Upon the delivery of the first fifty, another 125 were ordered immediately. In this 1974 photo, coach #1647 is traveling east along Monroe east of Library Street, with the Crowley-Milner Dept. Store buildings visible in the background. |
| Although not the best quality image, this video-still image shows an interior rear view of a DSR TDH-5301 (coach #1964). The shades of green color decor and the National Seating passenger seats (with the two-tone brown padded seating and back rests) were standard on all DSR new- looks purchased through 1966. Although the nominal seating capacity on the 5301's and 5303's accommodated 53 passengers, all of the DSR New-Looks beginning with the 1961 deliveries (#1901–f.) utilized a seating configuration that only accommodated 50 passengers. |
| Beginning in February of 1966, the DSR accepted the delivery of twenty (20) "air-conditioned" TDH-5303's (#2301-2320). These coaches first began service on a number of express bus routes, including the Grand River, Imperial, Jefferson and Gratiot Express routes. A few were even assigned for Gray Line Sightseeing Service. In this 1969 photo, series coach #2301 is seen dressed for Gray Line service and parked along Franklin street near Randolph. These #2300-series 5303's were the first DSR buses purchased using federal grant money from HUD. [photo courtesy of the Krambles-Peterson archive collection: G. Mac Sebree photo] |
| Another 80 "second generation" TDH-5303's (#2101-2180) were ordered in 1964, and began arriving that September. These 40-foot 102-inch "air-suspension" coaches—like the previous fleets—were equipped with many of the basic New-Look features, including improved driver visibility, large "picture" passenger windows, longitudinal mid-ceiling fluorescent lighting, and two-piece "slide-glide" type front doors. All DSR new-looks were powered with a six-cylinder 6V-71 Detroit Diesel engine and a GM/Allison V-drive hydraulic (automatic) transmission. NOTE: In the second year production, single-arm wipers replaced the pantograph style wipers. [S. Sycko photo, courtesy of the Stan Sycko photo collection] |
| This demo coach photo shows the front interior area of a typical GM New-Look coach. One very noticeable feature was the large six-piece curved glass windshield—resulting in added visibility for the driver. Compared to 9.3 square feet of windshield area on the Old Look model, the New Look windshield was nearly three times larger at 25.5 square feet of glass area. During the first year of production, pantograph style windshield wipers were used. On the TDH-5301 model (DSR coaches #1601-2040), three chrome decorative strips were used on the front dash area, but were later eliminated by GM on subsequent models (#2041–f.). [photo source: GM Truck & Coach promotional advertisement] |
