smoke deflector

English

Noun

smoke deflector (plural smoke deflectors)

1. (rail transport) a device fitted to either side or on top of the smokebox of some steam locomotives, the purpose of which was to lift smoke clear of the locomotive at speed, so it wouldn't obscure the driver's vision.
   • 1941 January, “Recent North American Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 27:

     The unusually handsome "cleaned-up" appearance of these engines, with their shapely smoke deflectors at the front end, is worthy of note.

   • 1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 44, photo caption:

     Aside from the air-scoop smoke deflector, GTW's six U-4-b streamlined 4-8-4's were counterparts of CNR's U-4-a's.

   • 1961 March, “Motive Power Miscellany”, in Trains Illustrated, page 181:

     A further Class A3 Pacific to be equipped with German-type smoke deflectors is No. 60105, [...] We gather that these deflectors have proved very efficient on the A3s.