[1] As the Interborough Rapid Transit Company's subway line was the first attempt at an underground rapid transit, the IRT and chief engineer George Gibbs felt compelled to develop a subway car that would be stronger and safer than any previously designed railway cars.

It was also widely believed that a steel car would be very loud, and poorly insulated from temperature extremes such as heat and cold.

The IRT knew that the 1904 opening of the new subway route was fast approaching and that rolling stock had to be designed and built soon or the line would not be ready.

In 1903, George Gibbs used his influence to contract with the Pennsylvania Railroad's shops in Altoona to build an all-steel prototype for the new subway.

IRT engineers began modifying the all-steel design to lighten the cars to a more suitable weight.

One of the largest breakthroughs came when engineers learned they could achieve a similar structural strength as the heavier car by constructing a "skeleton" floor frame made of thick, intersecting steel sills and crossmembers.

This was in contrast to using a single thick, heavy sheet of steel for a large center sill that supported the car.

Three hundred were to be constructed, incorporating the latest modifications made by Gibbs and IRT engineers to reduce the weight of the cars.

The motor cars were equipped with a center door cutout feature and were distinguishable by a white line painted outside under the number.

The economy-minded Board of Transportation took one of eight work cars set aside from this fleet in its early years, 3514 (the other seven are listed above).

Media related to Gibbs Hi-V (New York City Subway car) at Wikimedia Commons