if you stand on the platform, you can clearly see the numbers placed at different heights. unfortunately, due to the trains' tendency to accelerate and decelerate upon exiting and entering the station, the full effect isn't visible to straphangers. (the train window also isn't large enough to accommodate the full number.)

kudos to david for actually showing off what these numbers could do.

Agree with (2). Must be a slow day.

Not sure why some design-Web guy gets the credit for the skillful work of the mason here. The art of the tile rests squarely with the skills of the workers who laid the tile. I studied the large 42 numerals myself on many occasions at this station. It is on purpose to add a touch of creative whimsy.

Is photography in the subway still illegal? If so, David's lucky he didn't get a nightstick up the hinder. Nice work though.

no its not.

Apparently, the budget cuts began with the tile workers.

is it my browser i tried the animation and it actually only bumps up and down, the actual animation occurs when you ride the train, the number 42 appears to glide down from top to bottom?

its been like that for years and its news when some dummy tweets about it with a busted half assed animation in 2010.

slow news day, by the way did you know theres a zoetrope animation in brooklyn before exiting the tunnel to the manhattan bridge...its been there since the 80's but

if another slow news day comes along gothamist can run the story without giving me credit.

Is the internet already awash with gifs made of this? Otherwise this is indeed kind of novel, and I don't think the gif-maker is trying to take the glory. Not all news is hard-hitting, pal. That's a good thing.

The zoetrope was news last year, when it was uncovered after decades of being behind graffiti and not visible to people on the train riding past it.

Is the track on a slope in those stations? Then it would make sense.