THE CONDUCTORS
A LOVE STORY: Robert Sherman shines a light on the unsung heroes of the New York MTA Subway — the train conductors whose steady hands and focused minds guide the city through its daily rush. With care and precision, he captures their quiet devotion to a job that is both routine and vital.
December 3, 2021
PICTORIAL STORY
photography ROBERT SHERMAN
story ROBERT SHERMAN
introduction MELANIE MEGGS
Every day, millions of New Yorkers rely on the MTA subway system to get where they’re going. But behind the rumble of trains and the routine of the daily commute are the steady hands and sharp eyes of subway conductors — professionals who keep the city moving with little recognition.
New York based photographer, musician, and composer Robert Sherman turns his lens toward these unsung heroes in a compelling photographic series that brings their world into focus. A Chicago native and current columnist and social media manager for the Fire Island News, Sherman has long had a passion for visual storytelling. In this project, he captures the quiet resilience, focus, and humanity of those working in the shadows of the city’s vast underground network.
With a keen eye for overlooked details, Sherman invites viewers to see conductors not just as part of the system, but as individuals — navigating the rhythm, pressure, and poetry of life underground.
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New York City MTA SUBWAY, EVERYDAY:
A few years ago, as I exited the middle car on one particularly relaxed subway ride, I noticed a conductor open her window and stick her arm out and point up to the ceiling for what seemed like no particular reason. I thought to myself, what a lovely gesture of reverence and reverie! But it turns out it was neither, as I discovered by asking the next one, I saw later that week.
It is actually a required action taken by the middleman conductor at every subway stop. Its purpose is twofold: it shows the roaming MTA platform inspectors that the conductors are alert and paying attention to their job, and, more importantly, they are pointing at a (previously unnoticed by me) zebra striped sign set in the exact center of each platform. This indicates to the watchful eyes of the conductor up front that it is safe to open the doors. This, in turn, protects the passengers from stepping out directly onto the tracks had the train not been aligned properly at the stop.
It is a beautiful example of man and machine working in harmony. There may be the technology to do all of this automatically, yet it remains the chosen way to keep this charmingly human engagement alive and well.
The zebra signs first appeared as general markers between every two cars around WW1, and the gesture itself originated in Japan, where it was being used for the same purpose, although more elaborately - including voice signals, and the turning of a complex set of switches. It is referred to there as shisa kanko.
The MTA adopted and mandated this ritualistic action in the late 1990s after a number of incidents where passengers fell onto the tracks. And the new system has helped quite a bit in preventing that from happening ever since.
At any rate, I still choose to see it as simply a beautiful gesture, one that connects me to the perhaps previously unacknowledged, hardworking individuals who help as many as six million riders arrive safely to their destinations each and every day.
So, I set out to make a series of portraits in celebration of these conductors. We see them all the time, but perhaps we forget to look. With these images I hope that maybe we can now fall just a little bit in love with them, as well. I know I have.
Through this series, Robert Sherman offers a rare and intimate look at the often-overlooked world of New York City subway conductors. His photographs go beyond the routine grind of daily transit, revealing quiet moments of resilience, the human stories behind the uniforms, and the rich diversity of lives touched by the MTA. In spotlighting these essential workers, Robert reminds us of the dedication and dignity behind a job that keeps the city moving. Next time you step onto a train, consider a simple gesture — acknowledge the conductor. A thank you can go a long way.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and are not necessarily shared by The Pictorial List and the team.
