| DICKERSON |
Information for the above article compiled from data information supplied by Jack E. Schramm, courtesy of "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 Motor Coach Age magazine). Additional info obtained from 1950-54 DSR Headway Reports
courtesy of Tom Breeding, and from 1951, 1957-58 DSR Service Maps in the author's possession. Dickerson route-map, timetable and
transfer images courtesy of the Stan Sycko collection. Information on 1955 DSR service cuts obtained from copies of March 1955 editions
of the Detroit Free Press and Detroit Times, courtesy of Ken Schramm.
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 Motor Coach Age magazine). Additional info obtained from 1950-54 DSR Headway Reports
courtesy of Tom Breeding, and from 1951, 1957-58 DSR Service Maps in the author's possession. Dickerson route-map, timetable and
transfer images courtesy of the Stan Sycko collection. Information on 1955 DSR service cuts obtained from copies of March 1955 editions
of the Detroit Free Press and Detroit Times, courtesy of Ken Schramm.
© 2010
Initially the Dickerson line operated under 20-minute headways during peak, base and evening
hours. Oddly, two coaches operated during peak hours and one coach the rest of the day. However,
effective January 21, 1952, service was cut to peak-hour only operation with one coach, but still
operated under a 20-minute headway.
Effective May 1, 1955, the Dickerson line became one of ten DSR bus routes where Sunday service
was eliminated due to "little demand" for the service. The nine other lines included Bassett,
Broadstreet, Cadieux, Five Points, Lafayette-Green, Meyers, Northlawn, Schaefer and
Woodmere. According to the March 28, 1955 edition of the Detroit Times, DSR general manager
Leo J. Norwicki was reported as saying that a February survey revealed that Sunday revenue on
the ten lines ranged from 6 to 10 cents a mile, while it costs the DSR 60 cents a mile to operate the
service. The survey also revealed that on a recent Sunday only 820 passengers used the lines. As a
result, Sunday service on all ten lines was discontinued.
Eventually, continued low ridership numbers would take a toll on the entire service. Effective March
30, 1959, the Dickerson route itself was eliminated and the service was never replaced.
hours. Oddly, two coaches operated during peak hours and one coach the rest of the day. However,
effective January 21, 1952, service was cut to peak-hour only operation with one coach, but still
operated under a 20-minute headway.
Effective May 1, 1955, the Dickerson line became one of ten DSR bus routes where Sunday service
was eliminated due to "little demand" for the service. The nine other lines included Bassett,
Broadstreet, Cadieux, Five Points, Lafayette-Green, Meyers, Northlawn, Schaefer and
Woodmere. According to the March 28, 1955 edition of the Detroit Times, DSR general manager
Leo J. Norwicki was reported as saying that a February survey revealed that Sunday revenue on
the ten lines ranged from 6 to 10 cents a mile, while it costs the DSR 60 cents a mile to operate the
service. The survey also revealed that on a recent Sunday only 820 passengers used the lines. As a
result, Sunday service on all ten lines was discontinued.
Eventually, continued low ridership numbers would take a toll on the entire service. Effective March
30, 1959, the Dickerson route itself was eliminated and the service was never replaced.
The former Dickerson bus line was a very short, light service
bus route which began operations on Monday, February 21,
1938. The 1.8–mile long route basically operated from Gratiot
and Houston (now Houston-Whittier) via Dickerson to Harper.
The original route looped at Harper via east on Harper, south
on Lenox, west on Hern to north on Dickerson, over what today
would be the I-94 (Ford) Freeway. Initially the Dickerson line
was assigned to the Kercheval Garage (St. Jean at
Kercheval) but was transferred to the near-by Shoemaker
Garage on July 3, 1939, when the Shoemaker Carhouse was
converted into a bus garage and the Kercheval Garage was
closed down.
Effective May 27, 1940, the line was extended to the south and
west another 1½ miles to E. Warren and St. Jean via Dickerson
and East Warren. However, on November 2, 1942, the service
south of Harper was discontinued, with the line now looping
again at Harper, but this time via Park Drive, Evanston, and
Dickerson (see map) — the route the line would follow to the
end.
bus route which began operations on Monday, February 21,
1938. The 1.8–mile long route basically operated from Gratiot
and Houston (now Houston-Whittier) via Dickerson to Harper.
The original route looped at Harper via east on Harper, south
on Lenox, west on Hern to north on Dickerson, over what today
would be the I-94 (Ford) Freeway. Initially the Dickerson line
was assigned to the Kercheval Garage (St. Jean at
Kercheval) but was transferred to the near-by Shoemaker
Garage on July 3, 1939, when the Shoemaker Carhouse was
converted into a bus garage and the Kercheval Garage was
closed down.
Effective May 27, 1940, the line was extended to the south and
west another 1½ miles to E. Warren and St. Jean via Dickerson
and East Warren. However, on November 2, 1942, the service
south of Harper was discontinued, with the line now looping
again at Harper, but this time via Park Drive, Evanston, and
Dickerson (see map) — the route the line would follow to the
end.