1. Cowcatchers were originally fitted with an Extended Link for Link&Pin couplers, then

2. Cowcatchers (also known as a cattle catcher, cow plow or pilot) are devices used by the engines to deflect obstacles from the tracks as they pull their trains

3. Cowcatcher (plural Cowcatchers) (rail transport, principally US) The V-shaped device on the front of a locomotive (or other large vehicle) shaped so as to push objects on the tracks out of the way, to prevent major damage to the train