Rufus Henry Gilbert

Rufus Henry Gilbert (1832–1885) was an American surgeon and inventor, who worked on rapid transit in New York City.

[2] During his time in New York City, Gilbert became concerned with the cramped and overly centralized living conditions of the working class, seeing this as a major public health hazard, and began thinking about urban rapid transit as the key to provision of more sanitary living conditions.

Gilbert subsequently became Superintendent of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, where he worked on developing rapid transport in the New York City area.

[2] The company constructed the Sixth Avenue road, known as Gilbert Elevated Railroad, which opened in 1878.

[2] Gilbert was forced out of the company by his partners soon after the road opened, however, effectively ending his career.