| DAVISON SHUTTLE |
This 1958 route-map shows the 4.6-mile long route of the DSR's Davison Shuttle bus line. The route remained unchanged from 1954
until the service was discontinued in 1966.
The Davison Shuttle's first existence as a bus route began on November 17, 1938, after the DSR
decided to discontinue its Oakman East streetcar line -- which ran from the Woodward Carhouse in
Highland Park, and operated mostly along Davison and Nevada streets to Van Dyke on the east-side.
The east-end portion of the Oakman East line (east of Jos. Campau) was replaced by an extension
of the Baker streetcar line. (The former Baker streetcar route was equivalent to combining the
west-side portion of the present-day #49 Vernor (Baker) and east-side #10 Chene bus routes.)
That portion of the Oakman East streetcar line west of Jos. Campau was then serviced by the new
Davidson Shuttle bus line.
The Davison Shuttle operated from the DSR's Highland Park Terminal's Woodward Loop and
traveled via Woodward, Victor, Oakland, and Davison to Jos. Campau. However, this shuttle operation
was somewhat short-lived after the DSR decided to instead assign the entire service to the Baker
line, and the shuttle was discontinued on July 24, 1939. That portion along Davison west of Jos.
Campau would become the "Highland Park Branch" of the Baker streetcar line.
However, the shuttle service was soon resurrected on March 22, 1942, when the Highland Park
Branch of the Baker streetcar line was discontinued to allow for the construction of the Davison
Expressway in Highland Park. The Highland Park branch was replaced by a Davison Shuttle Rail
Bus ("rail buses" were buses that traveled streetcar routes and charged the 6-cent streetcar fare
instead of the 10-cent bus fare--however, rail buses became regular bus routes effective January 1,
1946, when streetcar fares were raised to equal the 10-cent bus fare).
The Davison Shuttle route was extended along E. Davison, Mt. Elliott, and Nevada to Van Dyke after
Baker streetcar operation along Davison was discontinued on February 14, 1949. Beginning on April
1, 1954, the line was rerouted, leaving from the Woodward Loop via Manchester, John R. and
Davison (eastbound), and returning via Oakland and Manchester (westbound).
A September, 1950 DSR route analysis summary shows that the Davison Shuttle operated 24-
hour service, with headways averaging 4-6 minutes. Service was assigned out of the Woodward
Terminal in Highland Park, with 10-14 small-size coaches used during peak-hours and 4 during the
base. Two coaches were used for late-night "owl" service.
However, when the DSR began to cut service during the 1960's the Davison line became one of the
casualties. The Davison Shuttle was discontinued when the Chene bus line was extended to Van
Dyke, via Davison, Mt. Elliott and Nevada, effective on July 7, 1966.
Information for the above article compiled from data information supplied by Jack E. Schramm, courtesy of "DSR BUS ROUTES,
1922-1932" ("Detroit's DSR, Part 1" -- January-February 1991 edition of Motor Coach Age magazine),"DSR BUS ROUTES, 1932-1945"
("Detroit's DSR, Part 2" -- March-April 1992 edition of MCA magazine), and "DSR BUS ROUTES, 1945-1974" ("Detroit's DSR, Part 3" --
May-June 1993 edition of MCA magazine). Additional info from 1950 DSR Schedule Analysis and Headway Reports courtesy of Tom
Breeding, and 1957-58 and 1963 DSR Service Maps in the author's possession. The Davison Shuttle route-map and transfer copy
courtesy of the Stan Sycko collection.
until the service was discontinued in 1966.
The Davison Shuttle's first existence as a bus route began on November 17, 1938, after the DSR
decided to discontinue its Oakman East streetcar line -- which ran from the Woodward Carhouse in
Highland Park, and operated mostly along Davison and Nevada streets to Van Dyke on the east-side.
The east-end portion of the Oakman East line (east of Jos. Campau) was replaced by an extension
of the Baker streetcar line. (The former Baker streetcar route was equivalent to combining the
west-side portion of the present-day #49 Vernor (Baker) and east-side #10 Chene bus routes.)
That portion of the Oakman East streetcar line west of Jos. Campau was then serviced by the new
Davidson Shuttle bus line.
The Davison Shuttle operated from the DSR's Highland Park Terminal's Woodward Loop and
traveled via Woodward, Victor, Oakland, and Davison to Jos. Campau. However, this shuttle operation
was somewhat short-lived after the DSR decided to instead assign the entire service to the Baker
line, and the shuttle was discontinued on July 24, 1939. That portion along Davison west of Jos.
Campau would become the "Highland Park Branch" of the Baker streetcar line.
However, the shuttle service was soon resurrected on March 22, 1942, when the Highland Park
Branch of the Baker streetcar line was discontinued to allow for the construction of the Davison
Expressway in Highland Park. The Highland Park branch was replaced by a Davison Shuttle Rail
Bus ("rail buses" were buses that traveled streetcar routes and charged the 6-cent streetcar fare
instead of the 10-cent bus fare--however, rail buses became regular bus routes effective January 1,
1946, when streetcar fares were raised to equal the 10-cent bus fare).
The Davison Shuttle route was extended along E. Davison, Mt. Elliott, and Nevada to Van Dyke after
Baker streetcar operation along Davison was discontinued on February 14, 1949. Beginning on April
1, 1954, the line was rerouted, leaving from the Woodward Loop via Manchester, John R. and
Davison (eastbound), and returning via Oakland and Manchester (westbound).
A September, 1950 DSR route analysis summary shows that the Davison Shuttle operated 24-
hour service, with headways averaging 4-6 minutes. Service was assigned out of the Woodward
Terminal in Highland Park, with 10-14 small-size coaches used during peak-hours and 4 during the
base. Two coaches were used for late-night "owl" service.
However, when the DSR began to cut service during the 1960's the Davison line became one of the
casualties. The Davison Shuttle was discontinued when the Chene bus line was extended to Van
Dyke, via Davison, Mt. Elliott and Nevada, effective on July 7, 1966.
Information for the above article compiled from data information supplied by Jack E. Schramm, courtesy of "DSR BUS ROUTES,
1922-1932" ("Detroit's DSR, Part 1" -- January-February 1991 edition of Motor Coach Age magazine),"DSR BUS ROUTES, 1932-1945"
("Detroit's DSR, Part 2" -- March-April 1992 edition of MCA magazine), and "DSR BUS ROUTES, 1945-1974" ("Detroit's DSR, Part 3" --
May-June 1993 edition of MCA magazine). Additional info from 1950 DSR Schedule Analysis and Headway Reports courtesy of Tom
Breeding, and 1957-58 and 1963 DSR Service Maps in the author's possession. The Davison Shuttle route-map and transfer copy
courtesy of the Stan Sycko collection.
© 2007
