In this graphic, when a train departs from its originating station, its path is traced on this webpage as a growing coloured string that is "plucked" by intersecting trains. Just as with a real stringed instrument (a cello in this case), longer train lines make lower notes when "plucked" than short ones. Time accelerates in this graphic, so you can watch a 24-hour train cycle. An interesting addition to this map is the artist's inclusion of discontinued subway lines: these so-called "ghost trains" slip by in the middle of the night.

According to his blog, Brooklyn resident Alexander Chen built this web page by combining MTA's public Application Programming Interface with Javascript, vector graphics (SVG), HTML5 and a dash of Flash. Many people find the sounds soothing or mesmerising, and some have likened the resulting sounds produced by this graphic to the music of John Cage.