ruling grade

noun

, Railroads.

the steepest grade on a given stretch of track, which determines the maximum tonnage that can be hauled in a train having a given horsepower at a stated minimum speed.

There was only one choice of locations: the valley line, where the ruling grade is about nominal.

In other words, what is known as the "ruling grade" is a function, strictly speaking, of the length as well as the rate of grade.

In the tunnels east of the Terminal Station the ruling grade is 1.5% for both east-bound and west-bound traffic.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

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