one engine in steam
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.35 in modern English
19
Scrabble Score
16
Letters
1
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
phrase
A principle in railway signalling where only one train or locomotive is allowed to run on a section of single-track line, such as a branch line, at any one time.
British usage
Example Sentences
- "There are eight 4-wheel coaches of the open toastrack type, but provided with roofs, and during the holiday season, usually beginning at Whitsuntide, trains are run as required on the one-engine-in-steam principle."
- "A change seems likely on the Axminster-Lyme Regis branch [...]. We hear also that one-engine-in-steam operation will probably be introduced on this line."
Usage
- British usage