smoke deflector

plural smoke deflectors

1. rail transporta 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.

   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.

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

   2 more examples

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

   1941 January, “Recent North American Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 27

   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.

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