SIGHTS
Bench seats, smudged glass windows that throw back reflections, folding or sliding doors, leather hand loops dangling from the ceiling, vertical poles that extend from the floor to the ceiling, handrails, air vents, posters and advertisements on the walls, public service notices, graffiti, passengers doing their best to avoid making eye contact, friends chatting, texting or watching a video on a phone together, duct tape sealing rips in the seats, commuters holding bags, briefcases, or young children in their laps, litter and pea gravel on the floor, narrow doors between cars, bright lights that occasionally flicker or skip before coming back on, dark tunnels, subway stations with people on platforms flashing past the windows, security call boxes, buttons to open the door, signs to stay back from the door, speakers, a digital display that shows which stop is coming up next, a map of the subway system and it’s stops on the wall, an eclectic mix of strangers (business professionals in suits, pink-haired teenagers with piercings and tattoos, mothers pushing strollers, vagrants sleeping on the benches, older men or women with grocery car dollies)
SOUNDS
The whoosh of air brakes, a door scraping open, voices over the speakers announcing stops, creaks and squeaks as the metal tube shimmies at high speed, snaps of electricity from outside, squeaks of rubbing metal during turns, passengers chatting, music drifting from headphones, laughter, swearing, the rattle of a newspaper, pages in a book being turned, the rustle of plastic bags, the creak of fabric and leather as people shift position, the noise from a busy platform drifting in as the doors open
SMELLS
Feet, body odor, perfume, body cologne, hair products, leather, greasy hair, dirt, cold metal, stagnant air, warm plastic, urine
TASTES
Some settings have no specific tastes associated with them beyond what the character might bring into the scene (chewing gum, mints, lipstick, cigarettes, etc.). For scenes like these, where specific tastes are sparse, it would be best to stick to descriptors from the other four senses.
TEXTURES AND SENSATIONS
Hard seats, the vibration of the train causing shakes and bumps, trying to make oneself small to avoid touching other people, squeezing past someone to get out the door, gripping a cold metal handrail, clamping tightly to a purse or backpack, keeping children close so they don’t bother other passengers, pushing on a door with a sleeve or shoulder so one doesn’t have to touch it, feeling watched but resisting the urge to look up for fear of making eye contact
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF CONFLICT
Riding the subway at times of the day when few people are around
Witnessing someone being harassed and knowing that if one gets involved, it will not end well
A group that comes on the train with the intent of shaking down the passengers
A scuffle between passengers that escalates when someone draws a weapon
Being stared at by someone that makes one feel unsafe
Being followed onto the train by someone one does not know
A medical emergency unfolding while between stations
A breakdown that strands passengers in a dangerous neighborhood
A train derailing
A showdown between a suspect and a security guard that endangers passengers
PEOPLE COMMONLY FOUND HERE
Passengers, security guards, subway workers
RELATED SETTINGS THAT MAY TIE IN WITH THIS ONE
Big city street, subway tunnel, train station
SETTING NOTES AND TIPS
Not only have movies turned subway trains into an iconic setting by placing innocent passengers in a high-speed box where anything can happen, we have had plenty of horrific real-life events which have taken place in this enclosed space. Acts of terrorism have targeted subway trains because of the high casualty numbers and the ability to destroy a means of transportation for so many people. Taking out a subway system (either literally or simply through widespread fear) can effectively shut down a city.
That being said, while subways have typically been viewed as grungy and dangerous places, this is no longer always the case. As with any setting, where the train system is located and how well it is maintained will be determining factors in its physical appearance. New York City’s subway system used to be fairly shady, but a dedicated push by the city’s mayor to clean it up and make it safe has changed it drastically. If you’re writing about an existing system, make sure to research it effectively to be sure you’ve got the right details. If your system is coming straight out of your imagination, then, of course, the sky’s the limit.
SETTING DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
The train stopped at the platform, its overheated brakes whistling like fireworks about to blow. I stepped on, wondering what I might see at this hour—a college kid with serious bed-head, making his way home barefoot in a classic walk of shame? A homeless guy catching a nap on the bench? I hoped it was that woman wearing the pirate hat who preached about the end of days. She was my favorite morning traveler, because she claimed to have a spaceship in her backyard. Man, I loved the city.
Techniques and Devices Used: Multisensory descriptions, simile
Resulting Effects: Establishing mood