A north-south connection is needed in the east end of the city, but the topography was too steep for streetcar operation, so a new bus route was inaugurated instead. From Danforth Avenue & Main Street via south on Main and Southwood Drive, and west on Williamson Road, looping clockwise via south on Wineva Avenue, west on Queen Street, north on Hambly Avenue and east on Williamson.
October 1st, 1933
Operation transferred from Sherbourne to Davenport garage.
July 20th, 1940
Route extended south of Queen to the Beach, looping clockwise via west on Hubbard Boulevard, north on Lee Avenue and east on Queen to Hambly, on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays only, during July and August.
June 19th, 1942
The Transit Commissioner orders the summer extension south of Queen to not be operated.
September 10th, 1945
Operation reverts to Sherbourne garage.
January 1st, 1954
Looping at the north end expanded to run counterclockwise via east Danforth, north on Barrington Avenue and west on Doncaster Avenue to Main.
July 1st, 1956
Now operated from the new Birchmount Garage.
September 9th, 1956
Assigned route number 51.
M A I N
51
DANFORTH QUEEN
daily, 18 hours/day
November 25th, 1956
Service note: 3 buses provide a 10 minute base service, increased to 6 minutes during rush hours with 5 buses. The 6.7 mile round-trip is scheduled for 30 minutes.
