# NYC dopers: why do subway trains sound like violins when they pull out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 18, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-dopers-why-do-subway-trains-sound-like-violins-when-they-pull-out/98893 "2002-03-18T17:14:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JRootabega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@JRootabega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRootabega)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-dopers-why-do-subway-trains-sound-like-violins-when-they-pull-out/98893/1 "2002-03-18T17:14:20Z")
I visited some friends in NYC yesterday, and as I was taking some uptown train (either ACE or 123, don’t remember which) I had an interesting experience. When I was waiting for the train there was one of those guys playing the violin-type thing. When the train pulled out of the station I heard this long, high three note phrase that sounded like his violin-type thing. Then at the next stop, I heard the same thing as we pulled out. I didn’t remember the first one exactly, so it was reasonable to assume that there were guys playing their violin-type things at two consecutive stations. Then it happened at the next stop! That’s when I realized it was the sound of the train pulling out. What the hell is that? ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-dopers-why-do-subway-trains-sound-like-violins-when-they-pull-out/98893/2 "2002-03-18T20:49:52Z")
It’s a little signal they play to let you know that door is about to close. Or open, if I recall correctly. My sister and I used to like to sing a long “doors clos-ing soon”. Come to think of it, just plain old “doors closing” would have been three notes.