Cowcatcher
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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 derail it or the train.
Cowcatcher of an American 1911 Baldwin steam locomotive at the Texas Transportation Museum
Leading truck and cowcatcher on the John Bull
Lifeguard (circled) on a British HST powercar
Old Timers at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, Duluth, Minnesota
Buffer stop
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A buffer stop, bumper, bumping post, bumper block or stopblock, is a device to prevent railway vehicles from going past the end of a physical section of track.
This buffer stop at Zürich Hauptbahnhof in Switzerland is designed to move up to 7 metres (23 ft) to slow down an 850-tonne (840-long-ton; 940-short-ton) passenger train from 15 km/h (9.3 mph) without damaging the train or injuring passengers.
Two views of a Hayes-built bumper at the Linden Railroad Museum, Linden, Indiana. This design accommodates the AAR coupler.
Energy-absorbing buffer stop in France
A buffer stop or sand drag on the Montreal Metro Honoré-Beaugrand station