Re: Steepest train/tram line

[freedom2measure@usa.net]

Got to tell you that although we are in the US we find the 1 in system a lot
easier to visualise than percents. Smaller numbers and easier on the brain

Best regards,

Freedom2Measure
http://www.freedom2measure.org

In article <3668b6ef.0@139.134.5.33>,
  "Ron BEST" <ronbest@bigpond.com> wrote:
>
> James Robinson wrote in message <36688076.5651@ERIE.NET>...
> >David Bennetts wrote:
> >
> >> The line at Roaring Camp ... is about 1 in 12 (of course the
> >> yanks use a % grade, just to be different.
> >
> >Interesting that you should bring this up, as Australia seems to be in
> >the minority with this one.  I believe most of the rest of the world
> >uses percent to describe gradients, which is eminently more intuitive
> >than the "1 in" system.  There are a few countries that seem to have
> >clinged to the British method, mostly those whose railroads began under
> >British influence.  (Though wasn't everybody's?) With the conversion to
> >Metric, I would have thought that the description of gradients would
> >have changed as well.  Seems to be an anomaly.  Any comments?
>
> Wot's it got to do with going Metric? "1 in 100" is 1 metre up in 100 metres
> of track, or 1 Outer Mongolian Cathump up in 100 Outer Mongolian Cathumps of
> track. Much more obvious what it means than a percentage! "One percent" of
> what??!!
>
> BTW, on a (vaguely) related subject, I heard that when Metrication hit the
> Aust. railway systems, Victoria refused to relocate their mile posts to
> become kilometre posts, but invented a thing called a "railway distance
> unit', equal to 1.61 kilometres!
>
> Also, NSW STILL identify fully-automatic signals by their distance in MILES
> and CHAINS from Sydney! There is at least one curious exception, on a line
> close to the city. Anyone know what I mean?
>
>

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