cowcatcher
Locomotive's front guard
A cowcatcher is the angled metal frame mounted on the front of a locomotive, designed to deflect obstacles—originally livestock—from the tracks.
The device pushes debris aside rather than catching it, despite the name.
Also called a pilot.
The term occasionally describes any protective barrier that clears a path: The security team acted as a cowcatcher for the celebrity.
One who steers aircraft
- trainRail vehicle or instruct
- engineMachine producing motion
- steamHeated water's gaseous form
- trackPath or monitored route
coupler · tender · boiler · whistle · caboose · railcar · carriage · freight
Protective metal grating
- guardWatchful defensive attention
- frameSupporting outer structure
- fenderProtective wheel housing
- bumperVehicle's protective edge
skirt · apron · nose · prow · forepart · iron · steel · bars
Something that redirects
- plowTool for turning soil
- bladeFlat cutting edge
- scoopFirst-reported story
- snowplowVehicle clearing frozen precipitation
plough · shovel · sweeper · clearer · pusher · remover · lifter
pilot
One who steers aircraft
track · coupler · tender · boiler · whistle · caboose · railcar · carriage · freight · passenger
grille
Protective metal grating
bumper · skirt · apron · nose · prow · forepart · iron · steel · bars · grate
deflector
Something that redirects
snowplow · plough · shovel · sweeper · clearer · pusher · remover · lifter
track
Path or monitored route
depot · crossing · right-of-way · grade · sleepers · ties · ballast · switching · mainline · siding
barrier
Obstruction preventing passage
- trainstrains, train, locomotive, locomotives, steam locomotive
- railroadsteam engine, locomotive, train car, caboose, passenger car
- railroadstrains, train, tracks, track, locomotive
- train thingswhistle, uniform, lantern, tracks, ticket
- railway partsrail, rails, track, tracks, wheel
- steam locomotivessteam engines, steam engine, boiler, firebox, steam trains