ruling gradient

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word ruling gradient. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word ruling gradient, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say ruling gradient in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word ruling gradient you have here. The definition of the word ruling gradient will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofruling gradient, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Noun

ruling gradient (plural ruling gradients)

  1. (rail transport) The steepest uphill gradient in one direction on a section of railway line, which determines the load that can be pulled by one locomotive over that section, according to the power rating of the locomotive. A typical ruling gradient could be 1:50 (2%). The ruling gradient can differ in the other direction on the same section.
    • 1950 December, R. C. J. Day and R. K. Kirkland, “The Kelvedon & Tollesbury Light Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 839:
      For the next mile, the line falls, and then rises again, at a gradient of 1 in 50, the ruling gradient of the line.
    • 1961 July, J. Geoffrey Todd, “Impressions of railroading in the United States: Part Two”, in Trains Illustrated, page 425:
      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.
    • 1962 December, “The Oxted Line diesel-electric multiple-units”, in Modern Railways, page 385:
      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.

Synonyms