Modern trains do not have the large, pointed "cowcatchers" (technically called pilots) seen on 19th-century steam locomotives because the design of rail transport has shifted from clearing obstacles to aerodynamic efficiency and structural weight. In the 1800s, locomotives were relatively light and ran on unfenced tracks through wilderness where livestock strikes could easily derail a train. The pointed cowcatcher was designed to deflect animals to the side rather than under the wheels. Today, modern locomotives are significantly heavier—often weighing over 200 tons—meaning they are far less likely to be derailed by a small obstacle. Instead of a cowcatcher, they use a plow-style pilot that is lower and flatter, optimized for clearing snow and smaller debris while allowing the locomotive to be coupled with other units. High-speed trains, like the Shinkansen or TGV, use an even more integrated aerodynamic "nose" that manages airflow at high velocities, where a traditional cowcatcher would create dangerous turbulence and drag.