DC Transit Silver Spring Area 1973 (part 1 of 2 parts)

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

When I started riding buses as a hobby, and before the inception of Ride-On, most everything in the Silver Spring community that Ride-On operates NOW, was once part of D.C. Transit.

I will post more routes, where they once ran, garages, routing, etc, as time allows me to. This list here is from 1973, as I remember them.

Let me also say, that the man I knew as my Step-Dad, was an operator at Northern & Montgomery, before he retired & since passed away.

*J4* (Northern) FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS to BELTWAY PLAZA
Monday - Saturday
Friendship Heights
Via E-W Highway
Silver Spring
Takoma Park
Ethan Allen Ave
(I dont remember if this ran along Ager Rd, to Queens Chapel or not)
P.G. Plaza terminal (remember the statue of The Big Boy?)
Univ of Md
US Route 1
Beltway Plaza (terminal was in front of the former S. Klein Department Store)
NOTE #1
On Saturdays, the J4 would operate what is now the E6 to/from DISTAFF HALL while on its extended layover at FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS
NOTE #2
The Entry & Routing at PG Plaza, back then, was a LEFT at the traffic light in front of the PG PLAZA, by the Fair Lanes Bowling Alley, quick RIGHT on ENTRY, 2 QUICK LEFTs to THE BIG BOY  STATUTE, 2QUICK LEFTS, QUICK RIGHT back to traffic light, and either right or left, depending on the bus destination.

*J8* (Northern) Wheaton Plaza to Beltway Plaza
Monday thru Saturday
Wheaton Plaza Roadway
(terminal was plaza roadway, where Macy's currently sits)
University Blvd
4 Corners
(Lorain Ave, Timberwood Ave, Colesville Rd, loop past firehouse (Papa Johns pizza)
University Blvd
Langley Park
Riggs Road
E-W Highway
PG Plaza (Big Boy)
Univ of Maryland
US 1
Beltway Plaza (terminal was in front of the former S. Klein Department Store)
NOTE
The Entry & Routing at PG Plaza, back then, was a LEFT at the traffic light in front of the PG PLAZA, by the Fair Lanes Bowling Alley, quick RIGHT on ENTRY, 2 QUICK LEFTs to THE BIG BOY  STATUTE, 2QUICK LEFTS, QUICK RIGHT back to traffic light, and either right or left, depending on the bus destination.


*L6* (Western) WHEATON to CHEVY CHASE CIRCLE
Monday thru Saturday
Next to Highs store at Hickerson Ave & Georgia Ave
(stop moved to Elkin Ave & University Blvd when state made NO LEFT TURNS at University Blvd & Georgia Ave.)
University Blvd to Wheaton Plaza Roadway (Opposite McDonalds)
4 stops in the Wheaton Plaza
University Blvd
Connecticut Ave
(I Don't remember if this route went down Kensington Parkway)
Chevy Chase Circle
DC Transit terminal just inside DC/MD line

*L7* (Western) RUSH HOUR ASPEN HILL to CHEVY CHASE CIRCLE
Monday thru Friday
Connecticut Ave (Terminal was on Conn Ave, between Aspen Hill Rd & Georgia Ave)
Georgia Ave
Aspen Hill Rd
Connecticut Ave
(I Don't remember if this route went down Kensington Parkway)
Chevy Chase Circle
DC Transit terminal just inside DC/MD line

*L8* (Western) SILVER SPRING to CHEVY CHASE CIRCLE
Monday thru Saturday
Fenton Street
Wayne Ave
Pershing Drive
Colesville Rd
16th Street
E-W Highway
Washington Ave
Grubb Rd
E-W Highway
Beech Drive
Rollingwood Dr
Leland Street
Connecticut Ave
Chevy Chase Circle
DC Transit terminal just inside DC/MD line

*M4* (Western) PINEHURST to BROOKMONT
I dont remember if this ran 5days a week, 6days, or 7days.
It basically ran from Utah Ave & Western Ave to Brookmont
Via Utah Ave
Nebraska Ave
Tenely Circle
Nebraska Ave
Loroborgh Road
SIBLEY HOSPITAL
MacAruther Blvd
Maryland Ave into BROOKMONT

(If I remember correctly, because of the weight restriction on the resiviour/viaduct, the buses had to take a slight detour onto a concrete pad, over the pipes, just before the entrance into the brookmont neighborhood. Was this route also using gasoline powered buses??)

*S2* (Northern) SILVER SPRING to FEDERAL TRIANGLE (Via Alaska Ave)
7 Days a week
SILVER SPRING TERMINAL
Georgia Ave
Alaska Ave
16th Street
(I Dont remember exact downtown routing)
FEDERAL TRIANGLE terminal was 11th street SOUTH of Pennsylvania Ave
behind what is now Post Office Pavillion
Then north on 12th Street towards SILVER SPRING
OPERATOR STREET RELIEF (Driver Switch) was on 16th Street & Buchanan Street

*S4* (Northern) SILVER SPRING to FEDERAL TRIANGLE (Via Eastern Ave)
Monday thru Saturday
(Shortly after I was a bus fan, they made this route 7days a week)
SILVER SPRING TERMINAL
Georgia Ave
13th street
Eastern Ave
16th Street
(I Dont remember exact downtown routing)
FEDERAL TRIANGLE terminal was 11th street SOUTH of Pennsylvania Ave
behind what is now Post Office Pavillion
Then north on 12th Street towards SILVER SPRING
OPERATOR STREET RELIEF (Driver Switch) was on 16th Street & Buchanan Street

*S7* (Northern??) RUSH HOUR WHEATON to FEDERAL TRIANGLE
Monday thru Friday
Inbound AM  Outbound PM
I Think it either started at WHEATON PLAZA, or WHEATON (Elkin & University)
University Blvd
Gable Street
Tenbrook Drive
Dennis Ave
Proctor Rd
Dallas Ave
Forest Glen Rd
Georgia Ave
16th street
(unsure of exact downtown routing)
I believe the downtown terminal of S7 & S9 was 13th street, just south of PA Ave.

*S9* (Northern) RUSH HOUR FOUR CORNERS to FEDERAL TRIANGLE
Monday thru Friday
Inbound AM  Outbound PM
Dennis Ave & Edgewood Rd (outside the window of the house I grew up in)
University Blvd
Lorain Ave, Timberwood Ave (??)
Colesville Road
16th street
(unsure of exact downtown routing)
I believe the downtown terminal of S7 & S9 was 13th street, just south of PA Ave.

I will post more soon, I promise =)
Next Postings will be Y & Z routes in 1973

[WMAveteran]

Thanks for the memories.  I lived on Grubb Road and used the "L8" on many occasions.  Because it was such a "peaceful" route it always drew older drivers with lots of seniority and it always had very clean 35 foot "fishbowls" assigned. 

[Perry]

I remember vividly waiting for the J8 in front of the Big Boy at that statue.  PG Plaza was where we went all of the time as I grew up in Carole Highlands near Riggs and Univ. Blvd.  We be-friended on operator on there, I think his name was Arnold.  Really nice guy who I remember bumping into at Harpers Ferry in the early 80's after he retired.  In the later seventies, the stops all moved to the end of the mall where G.C. Murphy's was.  I think that's a Target now....haven't been there in a few years.

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

Thanks for the memories.  I lived on Grubb Road and used the "L8" on many occasions.  Because it was such a "peaceful" route it always drew older drivers with lots of seniority and it always had very clean 35 foot "fishbowls" assigned.

And those Western fishbowls were 4900 series on the L8, back then.

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

I remember vividly waiting for the J8 in front of the Big Boy at that statue.  PG Plaza was where we went all of the time as I grew up in Carole Highlands near Riggs and Univ. Blvd.  We be-friended on operator on there, I think his name was Arnold.  Really nice guy who I remember bumping into at Harpers Ferry in the early 80's after he retired.  In the later seventies, the stops all moved to the end of the mall where G.C. Murphy's was.  I think that's a Target now....haven't been there in a few years.

Perry,
My wife & I have a wedding to attend up in Rockville next month.
Im gonna swinmg by the old neighborhood the EX & I lived in (Edmonston & Hyattsville)
and take a few pix, of buses & places I remember (The bowling alley is no longer there, replaced by a GIANT & a HOME DEPOT on corner of Toldeo & E-W Highway.

I'll email some neighborhood pix, to your email, ok?

Robbie

[Perry]

Definitely!!  Wow, that whole PG Plaza area is COMPLETELY different than what I remember.  I went to Nicholas Orem Middle right behind the bowling alley when it was still there.  The Green Line construction wasn't anywhere near beginning at that time. 

I have so many memories of the R7 from Brookland to Highview, the J2/J4 to Beltway Plaza, the R8's that started in Lewisdale off Univ. Blvd. in the AM, the E line when it ran into DC prior to the red line and the R4 to Crystal City (I think!)

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

I know that LEWISDALE BUS.
It started next to what WAS the Toys R Us, but I remember it as an R6 to BROOKLAND, when the METRO opened.
I also know it musta been something else in its day, before the METRO OPENED.

I also, remember before the current re-alignment, that the R8, before starting at Ft Totten Started at Crystal City to CALVERTON. When Ft Totten opened the R8 ran to CALVERTON straight up Riggs Rd/Powdermill Rd/Calverton DR to The GREAT OAKS CENTER, where it shared the terminal with the R2.

Before the METRO opened to BROOKLAND, the R2 started/was signed KENNEDY CENTER/CALVERTON and came up thru Mt Pleasant, cross town, Hospital Center complex, Queens Chapel Rd/PG Plaza/UofMD,US #1,Beltsville/Rhode Island Ave/Powder Mill Rd/Cherry Hill rd to the GREAT OAKS Center/CALVERTON.

Both the R2 & R8, and the Lewisdale buses were all out of Bladensburg Garage & ran 7 days a week.

[Perry]

Actually there was another Lewisdale branch I was thinking of that started next to the old Scott's Gas Station on University west of 23rd Ave.  It was Drexel Street I believe, although I don't know if that was what it was called at Univ., but it was the street it popped out off of Riggs Road when it made the unprotected left onto s/b Riggs.

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

Actually there was another Lewisdale branch I was thinking of that started next to the old Scott's Gas Station on University west of 23rd Ave.  It was Drexel Street I believe, although I don't know if that was what it was called at Univ., but it was the street it popped out off of Riggs Road when it made the unprotected left onto s/b Riggs.

You talking right behind Plain & Fancy doughnuts??
The layover zone was adjacent to the liquor store?

I Don't remember what the route was, OR its destination.
I would venture to say it was a Bladensburg bus. But we also talking history from the 70's & 80's, back when there was a Jack In The Box on University Blvd

[Perry]

Yes, Plain and Fancy, how could I forget!!! We used to walk down there quite a bit to get doughnuts and I remember that old Jack in the Box. 

The layover was behind that liquor store.  There was a Gino's at Riggs and Univ. that turned into a KFC eventually as well.  I think the Jack in the Box turned into a Church's, then I don't remember what happened after that.

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

It turned into:

"The WIZ"
Slogan was: Nobody beats Da Wiz!!

an electronic toy store (Think boom boxes & blasters for your ride)

[Perry]

Oh  yeah, I remember that dump. LOL  I also vaguely remember Metrobuses going directly into the Langley Park shopping center and stopping in front of the Korvettes, which then turned into a K-Mart, which is now I think a Toys R Us and some other crap.   We'd take the bus there, then walk to Giant, do our shopping and take a Takoma Langley Cab back home.  As I told you, we had one cabbie that was our neighbor, but then we got to know quite a few others as we rode it so much.  The cabbies were very community oriented and it was nice riding with people that knew the area.

I always was excited to see what new models of cabs they'd get.

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

Its a shame that currently, you need an interpreter from the United Nations to go in that neighborhood.

When I got out of The Navy in 1981, I moved into Mrs Lyn's boarding house/apts at Merrimac & New Hampshire. $125. a month. When I got married to the EX. we lived at Quebec Arms Apts 14th & Merrimac. We even remember when after Len Bias (UofMD basketball player drafted by Boston & died from coke overdose 2 days later) his teammate Adrian Branch, was arrested by PG County, for going to the "Stop & Cop" to get a nickle bag of herbs  . . . .  this was 2-3 days after Len Bias died. 

I'm sure you also remember when that intersection, had a grocery store on every corner, GIANT, Grand Union, Safeway & the A&P, as well as a movie theater.

[Perry]

That was when you could actually walk to Langley Park and not feel like you were going to get robbed.  We used to walk up there to go to those movies, go to Hot Shoppes, go to the ice cream shop across the way, Wylies I think was the name?  We used Arista dry cleaners near Giant, I also remember the Fayva (I think was the name) shoe store, the card shop that had the unique candle smell when  you walked in...The A&P was pretty much right behind my elementary school.

We would go back and forth between the Grand Union in Langley Park and the one at PG Plaza.  It just depended on how far we wanted to go....

[Scrabbleship]

I remember vividly waiting for the J8 in front of the Big Boy at that statue.  PG Plaza was where we went all of the time as I grew up in Carole Highlands near Riggs and Univ. Blvd.  We be-friended on operator on there, I think his name was Arnold.  Really nice guy who I remember bumping into at Harpers Ferry in the early 80's after he retired.  In the later seventies, the stops all moved to the end of the mall where G.C. Murphy's was.  I think that's a Target now....haven't been there in a few years.

Your observation about the G.C. Murphy at PG Plaza becoming a Target is correct.

To the supermarket glut in Langley, what did the Giant and the Grand Union become? When did Grand Union leave DC (and anywhere outside of New York/New Jersey/New England) in the first place? I know the Safeway's still there and the A&P was subdivided into the Aldi and a couple smaller shops.