This line was formed in 1907 to provide service between the Union Depot and Willamette Heights along Morrison street. Previously, Sunnyside and Mount Tabor cars had run across the river and out Morrison street to the western residence areas, and the Twenty-third street line had run up to Willamette Heights. However, congestion caused by delays at the Willamette River bridges necessitated a reworking of routes: the Sunnyside/Tabor cars looped at Morrison, Third, Yamhill and First, and the new Depot-Morrison line headed out to the Heights instead.

Originally, the cars were marked with a “W” for Willamette Heights on the outwards journey and an “M” for Morrison when headed back to Union station; it wasn’t until 1920 that they gained a more obvious “D-M” dash sign.

This line gained a new downtown one-way loop of Washington, Fifth and Morrison back out to 19th in October 1923 and became known as the Willamette Heights line. At the same time, the Council Crest line was rerouted to serve Union station instead.

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