ruling gradient

noun

Definitions

  1. The steepest uphill gradient in one direction on a section of railway line.

    • For the next mile, the line falls, and then rises again, at a gradient of 1 in 50, the ruling gradient of the line.
    • In the next 65 miles the train climbs 2,470ft to the Arizona Divide on a ruling gradient of 1 in 70 and in steam days a fleet of helper engines was kept busy assisting the heavy trains over this section.
    • Minor changes to control gear include the provision of automatic wheelslip protection, since these units will be operated on lines with ruling gradients of 1 in 60 or 1 in 80.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for ruling gradient. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA