Editing Cowcatcher

{{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relied exclusively on those devices and cowcatchers were not required, but in modern systems cowcatchers have generally superseded them.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}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]].

==Invention==
An idea for a cowcatcher was proposed by [[Charles Babbage]] in 1830, during his period of working for the [[Liverpool and Manchester Railway]].<ref>{{cite book |last = Hyman |first = Anthony |author-link=R. Anthony Hyman|title=[[Charles Babbage: Pioneer of the Computer]]|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year = 1982 |isbn = 0-19-858170-X |pages = 142f <!-- URL is linked to from Wikipedia page linked to by title param. | url = https://archive.org/details/charlesbabbagepi0000hyma/page/142 | access-date = 22 April 2025 -->  | quote = Babbage suggested to Hodgson of the railway company what was later to be called a 'cow-catcher' for sweeping obstacles off the line.}}</ref> However, Babbage's invention was not constructed, and it is uncertain whether later manufacturers were aware of Babbage's idea.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

The first practical cowcatcher is widely credited to Isaac Dripps, who fitted one to the [[John Bull (locomotive)]] in 1833,<ref>{{cite book |last= White |first= John |author-link= |date= 1979|title= A History of the American Locomotive |location = Garden City, NY | publisher= Dover Publications |page= 211, 265 |isbn=9780486238180 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=1A4iiGAz628C | access-date = }} </ref> shortly after steam haulage commenced on the [[Camden and Amboy Railroad and Transportation Company | Camden and Amboy Railroad]].{{cn|date=April 2025}} His design is described and illustrated in [[David Stevenson (engineer)| David Stevenson]]'s book ''Sketch of the Civil Engineering of North America'', published in 1838.{{full|date=April 2025}}

==Design==
[[File:Old Timers at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, Duluth MN.jpg|thumb|Old Timers at the [[Lake Superior Railroad Museum]], Duluth, Minnesota]]
On a mainline locomotive, the cowcatcher has to successfully deflect an obstacle hit at speed. The design principle is to push the object upwards and sideways out of the way and not to lift the locomotive on impact.

The typical shape is a blunt wedge with a shallow V-shape in plan. In the later days of [[steam locomotive]]s, the front [[coupling (railway)|coupler]] was designed to swing out of the way also, so it could not get caught up; this was called a 'drop coupler pilot'.

Early on, cowcatchers were normally fabricated of bars mounted on a frame; later on, sheet metal cowcatchers were often used for their additional smoothness, and some cast steel cowcatchers were employed for their mass and smooth shape. Early diesel locomotives followed the same plan.

Cowcatchers on early [[switcher locomotive]]s in the US often had steps (called "footboard pilots") to allow yard workers to ride with the locomotive. In some countries, footboard pilots are outlawed for safety reasons, and have been removed. Modern locomotives often have front and rear platforms with safety rails, or deeply recessed steps, where workers can ride.

==Modern cowcatchers==
Most modern [[Europe]]an rail vehicles must have cowcatchers with a [[snowplow|snowplough]] function and rail guards. The required strength of the system is {{convert|30|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} in the middle of the track and {{convert|50|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} near the rails.<ref>{{cite web |title=§ 41 Bahnräumer und Schienenräumer |url=http://www.buzer.de/gesetz/5894/a81357.htm |work=Verordnung über den Bau und Betrieb der Straßenbahnen (Straßenbahn-Bau- und Betriebsordnung - [[BOStrab]]). |language = de |date=2008-11-07 |access-date=2009-03-29}}</ref>

Modern US [[diesel locomotive]]s have flatter, less wedge-shaped cowcatchers, because a diesel locomotive has the cab near the front, and the crew are vulnerable to impact from obstacles pushed up by the cowcatcher.

==Anti-climbers==
[[File:Indian Pacific train hauled by locomotive NR28 in new 2005 livery.jpg|thumb|right|An anti-climber on the front of an Australian [[National Rail NR class|NR class]] diesel locomotive]]

To protect the crew and passengers, most modern locomotives have a horizontally grooved steel beam known as an '''anti-climber''' fitted across the front, above the coupler. Its purpose is to prevent colliding locomotives from riding up and moving over the locomotive frame through the cab.

== See also ==
* [[Bullbar]]
* [[Buffer (rail transport)]]
* [[Buffer stop]]
* [[Headstock (rolling stock)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{commons category|Cowcatchers}}
* {{cite magazine |date=March–April 1945 |title=Notes and News: Pilot Engines, Past and Present |magazine=[[The Railway Magazine]] |volume=91 |issue=556 |publisher=Railway Publishing Company |location=Westminster |pages=117–118 }} - describes seven other meanings of the word "pilot" historically used on Britain's railways.
* {{cite journal |date=Fall–Winter 2016 |title=Hubris and the Cowcatcher by John H. White Jr. |journal=Railroad History|issue=215 |publisher=Railway & Locomotive Historical Society |location=Pflugerville, Texas |pages=86–91 }} - describes Lorenzo Davies, alleged inventor of the cowcatcher.

[[Category:English inventions]]
[[Category:Locomotive parts]]
[[Category:Railway safety]]
[[Category:Steel objects]]