John Bull is a historic British-built steam locomotive that operated in the United States. It was operated for the first time on September 15, 1831, and became the oldest operable steam locomotive in
John Bull, c. 1895
The John Bull and train as it looked in 1831; drawn by Isaac Dripps in 1887
The John Bull as it appeared in 1877, with a cab, leading truck, cowcatcher and wider funnel
John Bull at the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893
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.
John Bull (locomotive)
…leaving only the rear axle powered. Effectively, with a single set of powered driving wheels, the John Bull became a 4-2-0. Later, the C&A also added a cowcatcher ("pilot") to the lead truck. The cowcatcher is an angled assembly designed to deflect animals and debris off of the track in front of the locomotive…
Cowcatcher of an American 1911 Baldwin steam locomotive at the Texas Transportation Museum
Lifeguard (circled) on a British HST powercar
Old Timers at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, Duluth, Minnesota