Hear the Lone Whistle Moan

1991 Harlem–125th Street (Harlem Line) Metro-North Railroad

In 1991, Alison Saar created "Hear the Lone Whistle Moan," a series of bronze relief sculptures on the north and south platforms of the station. The title refers to a spiritual that uses the train as a metaphor for the passage to heaven. Trains have often been associated by African Americans with escape, and the Underground Railroad in particular.

In Saar’s words, “these pieces … create a simple narrative of two people. One, the young woman coming to the city in hopes of advancing her career; the other, a successful businessman leaving the city to return to his hometown. I believe these two scenarios to be examples of how many Americans have used the railroads to and from New York throughout history. Yet I was also addressing the specific and rich tradition of the role of the railroad in general in the lives of African Americans.” A third figurative sculpture of a train conductor is located at the top of the platform stairs.

Saar’s projects at Harlem-125 Street encourage preservation of Harlem’s great legacy and celebrate its rich history.