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DICKERSON
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.
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,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Route operated under DSR
| The above DSR map displays the route followed by the Dickerson bus line during most of the route's years of operation. |
To view a copy of a June 21, 1956 DSR Pocket Guide schedule card for the former Dickerson bus
line click-on DICKERSON TIMETABLE.
line click-on DICKERSON TIMETABLE.
| A "Free" DSR issued DICKERSON transfer from October 20, 1951 (Courtesy, the Stan Sycko Collection) |