| 1960-69 EQUIPMENT PHOTOS (Page 2) |
FLXIBLE "NEW-LOOK" COACHES – MODEL F2D6V-401
THE MINIBUS COACH – MODEL MB-711
GM "NEW-LOOK" COACHES – MODEL T6H-5305
| FOR MORE 1960'S DSR EQUIPMENT PHOTOS (PAGE 3) CLICK-ON "NEXT" (Below) |
| As seen in this December 2005 photo of coach #2621, the T6H-5305 "third generation" GMC new-looks came equipped with improved marker and tails lights when compared with the previous models. During recent years, ol' #2621 has been spruced-up, cleaned-up, and displayed at various events held around town, including the ground-breaking ceremonies for the new DDOT Rosa Parks Transit Center, which was held back on November 4, 2005. [The above photo was taken by "DSR-2-DOT" group member M. Koprowicz "alcocentury425"] |
© 2006 (PAGE LAST MODIFIED ON 06-06-09)
| The above interior images of former DSR coach #2621 were supplied to the "DSR-2-DOT" Yahoo! Groups discussion forum by group member "alcocentury425." (click images to enlarge) [photos taken by M. Koprowicz] |
| This interior photo of #2621 was taken a few years before the coach was spruced-up. Although the coach was quite dusty when the photo was taken, it does give us a view of the front interior and driver's compartment areas of a typical DSR new-look coach from back in the day. [photo courtesy of the DSR-2-DOT @ Yahoo!Groups photo collection – H.B.Craig,II photo] |
| In this September 1965 photo, coach #3519 participates in a special 20-bus parade of new Flxible coaches during their maiden voyage up Woodward Ave. The "short-lived" Flexible fleet would later be replaced by a fleet of 20 GMC "new-looks" (#2501-2520) in November of 1966. Because of the numerous brake and transmission problems the buses were returned to Flxible. [Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University photo #48416 — see disclaimer below] |
| In 1965, approval was granted to the DSR to order twenty coaches manufactured by the Flxible Company of Loudonville, Ohio, for trial on the DSR's heavily traveled Woodward Avenue line. A 105-coach order was split with General Motors and 85 GM TDH-5303s were also ordered. On August 23, 1965, the first of 20 coaches (#3501-3520) — Model F2D6V-401 — were delivered and placed into trial service along-side the new GM coaches. Unfortunately, shortly after being placed into service, a number of brake related accidents involving the fleet would occur. [website owner's collection photo, courtesy of the Schramm photo collection] |
All Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University photos posted with permission.
All rights, including those of further reproduction and/or publication, are reserved in full by the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne
State University. Photographic reproductions may be protected by U.S. copyright law (U.S. Title 17). The user is fully responsible for
copyright infringement.
All Jim Husing Collection photos are posted with the permission of Mr. James Husing. Any distribution of photos for sale purposes is
prohibited.
All rights, including those of further reproduction and/or publication, are reserved in full by the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne
State University. Photographic reproductions may be protected by U.S. copyright law (U.S. Title 17). The user is fully responsible for
copyright infringement.
All Jim Husing Collection photos are posted with the permission of Mr. James Husing. Any distribution of photos for sale purposes is
prohibited.
| In this April 2, 1974 photo, DSR Minibus #101 is seen turning from Washington Boulevard onto Larned street while working the MINI-LOOP #1 route. A smaller size Cobo Hall can be seen in the background—some years prior to its expansion across Larned in 1989. [photos courtesy of the Krambles-Peterson archive collection: George Krambles photo] |
Detroit D.S.R. (Department of Street Railways)
| Please click-on link to return to the "PHOTO GALLERY" Main Page. |
| THE 1920's 1 2 3 |
| THE 1980's 1 2 3 |
| THE 1990's 1 2 3 |
| THE 2000's 1 2 3 |
| Beginning on June 6, 1968, forty-six new GMC Model T6H-5305 coaches (#2601-2646) were delivered to the DSR. These third generation GMC "New-Looks"–costing $29,504 apiece–were purchased with the help of a $820,000 federal HUD grant. In this 1978 photo, coach #2632 can be seen traveling east along Jefferson Avenue downtown while working the Mini-Loop #1 route. By the time this photo was taken a DDOT logo had now replaced the old DSR lettering. [Melvin Bernero photobucket.com collection, used by permission of Melvin Bernero] |
| The #2600-series coaches came with improved passenger seating and were the first fleet of DSR coaches to come equipped with electric-motor operated destination signs. The T6H-5305's also enabled the DSR to retire the last of its post-war #1000-1100 series GM "old-look" diesels. Of course, this fleet sported the same DSR new-look color scheme first introduced back in 1960. In this May 1978 photo, coach #2630 is south on Woodward at Michigan working the Dexter line. [Melvin Bernero photobucket.com collection, used by permission of Melvin Bernero] |
| FORMER DSR COACH #2621 (MODEL T6H-5305–0049) PRESERVED BY D-DOT |
| In this early-1980's photo, coach #2621 can be seen laying-over on Jefferson Avenue near Washington Boulevard while in service on the Dexter line. According to local transit enthusiast M. Koprowicz, coach #2621 even made a brief cameo appearance in the 1992 movie "HOFFA" (starring Jack Nicholson)—about the life and mysterious death of Teamsters Union president Jimmy Hoffa. Coach #2621 appeared in one of the few scenes that was actually shot in Detroit. [Jim Husing Collection photo, courtesy of James Husing — see disclaimer below] |
| Although the last of the #2600-series GMC T6H-5305's were retired in 1988, one coach from that fleet still lives on today! Former DSR coach #2621 (Model T6H-5305–serial #0049) has been refurbished, repainted, and preserved by the Detroit Department of Transportation and is currently being stored at DDOT's main heavy repair shop facility. [website owner's collection photo, courtesy of the Schramm photo collection] |
| The interiors of the DSR GMC new-looks purchased during the 1960's used various shades and combinations of green. It wasn't until the arrival of new-look fleets during the 1970's that the interior color schemes parted from the usual green decor. However, the #2600-series GMs were the first Detroit coaches to arrive with the style of redesigned seating seen here in #2621. These were the last DSR coaches purchased with the optional four-piece "jackknife" folding rear door. [The above photo was taken by "DSR-2-DOT" group member M. Koprowicz "alcocentury425"] |
| Although regarded unfit for service and returned back to the manufacturer, the entire twenty- coach Flxible fleet was later resold and found service in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they would retain their original Detroit DSR colors. In this June 1977 photo, coach #2501 can be seen at 5th Street SE and 1st Avenue NE in Cedar Rapids. The ex-Detroit fleet would continue on in service through to the early-1980s. (For more on the DSR Flxibles see Detroit's Flxible Buses) [photo courtesy of the Krambles-Peterson archive collection, Art Peterson photo] |
| On September 20, 1966, the DSR accepted delivery of four 19-passenger Minibuses to be used on a new downtown loop service. The small fleet (#101-104) — Model MB-711 — was built by the Passenger Truck Equipment Co. and came equipped with gasoline powered Dodge Truck engines. On Monday, October 10, 1966, the DSR launched its new 10¢ MINI-LOOP #1 service. The downtown loop, with 6–10 minute service, proved so successful that two additional mini- buses (#105-106) were purchased in 1968. On September 3, 1968, the DSR launched its second downtown loop service - the MINI-LOOP #2. The last of the Minibuses were retired in 1976. [photo source: Motor Coach Age — May–June 1993 edition, T.C. VanDegrift photo] |
(Click-on photo to view larger image)