I am so glad finally to have someone to ask about this! A couple of years ago, when the new 2/3 trains started running, I noticed a peculiar phenomenon: when their brakes release, the trio of squeaks that sounds forms the opening notes of "Somewhere" from "West Side Story" (you'll hear it if you sing "There's a place..."). I'm certain that I'm not imagining this, because when I was standing on a subway platform on the Upper West Side a friend made the same observation. Has anyone else noticed this? Is it an intentional homage on the part of the MTA?
Anne S., Brooklyn
Recently, Gothamist was waiting for the train with a friend who works as a composer and, amazingly enough, is gifted with perfect pitch. To top it off, he even played in the orchestra during his high school's production of West Side Story back in the early 90s. Having wondered about these singing trains, and blessed with the company of such a musical genius, we asked our friend if he could confirm the similarity.
A train pulled in to the station. Trusting the announcement that, in fact, another train "was right behind this one," we stood on the platform and waited for the 2 to leave. Our friend listened intently for the signature squeaks and confirmed our suspicion. In musical terms, the three notes are minor sevenths, an exact match of the classic Tony and Maria duet.
That made Gothamist very happy, but not until your letter did we imagine MTA engineers ordering up a showtune-singing subway car. The 1, 9, 2, and 3 trains do, after all, run smack through the Upper West Side setting of the 1957 musical. Could Anne be right? Are the notes programmed by the MTA in homage to legendary New York Philharmonic conductor and WSS composer Leonard Bernstein?
The answer is no. Jonathan Brown writes on the London Tube's website that it's just an electrical coincidence.
"It [has] to do with the advanced engine of the new trains, which use alternating instead of direct current. This means the direct current from the third rail is converted aboard the train to alternating current and, in the process, the catchy 'tune' is produced."
You can also read Randy Kennedy's book, Subwayland: Adventures in the World Beneath New York for more information. In his 2002 article titled "Three-Note Mystery Haunts Riders on No. 2 Line," The New York Times writer confirms the alternating current theory with MTA staffers.
Oh well. Gothamist is still holding out for a train that plays "Suddenly Seymour."
