Reply to "E units, with or without front coupler?"

S. Islander posted:

Later "E" units had a pair of extended door shrouds on the pilot which enclosed the front coupler. In later use, they were often removed and not replaced, being just anther exposed, movable part with chances of becoming misaligned or damaged thereby causing delays in service.

Front couplers were at first hidden for styling looks, as well as a safety precaution with high speed running.  An exposed coupler could snag on what ever was struck in a collision. It could possibly allow that object or its parts to go under the locomotive and cause even greater damage if it derailed and rolled over. Covering a front coupler with a shroud would perhaps better allow a struck object to be pushed to one side. Streamlined steam locos had their front couplers hidden for the same reasons. 

S. Islander

 

Here's an example as modeled on my S Scale E8's:

Rusty