A rigid, V-shaped steel pilot attached to the front of a locomotive designed to sweep large debris, livestock, or vehicles off the rails before they can go under the wheels and cause a derailment. While historic steam engines featured prominent, barred grilles, standard diesel locomotives use a heavy steel plow integrated directly into the front pilot.
Heard on the job
The shop had to weld a new plate on the cowcatcher after that grade crossing strike last week.
Insider tip
Railroaders almost exclusively call this assembly the pilot or the plow. The term cowcatcher is mostly used by the general public or when referring to historic steam engines.
Also heard as
- pilot
- plow