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
Telescoping (rail cars)
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In a railway accident, telescoping occurs when the underframe of one vehicle overrides that of another, and smashes through the second vehicle's body. The term is derived from the resulting appearance
Cowcatcher
…the front, above the coupler. Its purpose is to prevent colliding locomotives from riding up and moving over the locomotive frame through the cab ("telescoping"). Bullbar…
The aftermath of the June 2009 Washington Metro train collision
The aftermath of the 1898 St Johns rail accident, where the rear two carriages of a passenger train were telescoped by being hit at 8 mph (13 km/h) by a following train.
Cars involved in the Mud Run disaster, October 10, 1888