Editing Cowcatcher (section)

{{short description|Device at the front of a locomotive to deflect an obstacle from the track}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2012}}
[[Image:1911 Baldwin 2-8-0 Steam at Texas Transportation museum 3.jpg|thumb|right|Cowcatcher of an American 1911 [[Baldwin Locomotive Works|Baldwin]] [[steam locomotive]] at the [[Texas Transportation Museum]]]]
[[Image:John Bull.jpg|thumb|Leading truck and cowcatcher on the ''[[John Bull (locomotive)|John Bull]]'']]
[[Image:Indian Railways WAG-9 31054.jpg|thumb|Pilot of a modern [[Indian locomotive class WAG-9]]]]
[[Image:Lifeguard on Class 43 powercar.jpg|thumb|right|Lifeguard (circled) on a UK [[British Rail Class 43 (HST)|HST powercar]]]]

A '''cowcatcher''', also known as a '''pilot''', is the device mounted at the front of a [[locomotive]] to deflect obstacles on the track that might otherwise damage or [[Derailment|derail]] it or the train.

In the UK, small metal bars called ''life-guards'', ''rail guards'' or ''guard irons'' are provided immediately in front of the wheels. They knock away smaller obstacles lying directly on the running surface of the railhead. Historically, fenced-off railway systems in Europe relied exclusively on those devices and cowcatchers were not required, but in modern systems cowcatchers have generally superseded them.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Instead of a cowcatcher, [[tram]]s use a device called a '''fender'''. Objects lying on the tram track come in contact with a sensor bracket, which triggers the lowering of a basket-shaped device to the ground, preventing the overrunning of the obstacles and dragging them along the road surface in front of the wheels.

In snowy areas the cowcatcher also has the function of a [[Snowplow#Railway snowplows|snowplough]].