Wow! Finally the N scale 4-6-0! I know its just an image of an early sample, but that tender is way too big for that thing. What tender will the final version have? Id personally want the tender from the HO scale 52" driver version.

This is a huge set of announcements. Its so large, I'm almost surprised there isn't any Z scale included with it. Keep up the good work!

-Curn

Frank,

I believe the piping you refer to, in the real world, are feed water lines that run from the tender to the water injectors that force water into the pressurized boiler. On the model the flexible hose that runs from the pipes to the tender is difficult to model, so they just dangle there. 

Here is a part of an article that shows the pipes.
http://archive.mylargescale.com/articles/masterclass/mc1/mc1-06/bkgrnd/bkgrnd08.asp
- this is a good explanation of the injectors
http://archive.mylargescale.com/articles/masterclass/mc1/mc1-06/bkgrnd/bkgrnd07.asp

The full article goes in depth into all piping found on steam locomotives and from a wide range of eras. Its a good read if you are interested.
http://archive.mylargescale.com/articles/masterclass/mc1/mc1-06/mc1-06.asp

Any chance Bachmann will paint one of these up for the Virginia and Truckee?

http://www.virginiaandtruckee.com/Locomotive/No11.htm
http://www.virginiaandtruckee.com/Locomotive/No12.htm
http://www.virginiaandtruckee.com/Locomotive/No17.htm
http://www.virginiaandtruckee.com/Locomotive/No18.htm
http://www.virginiaandtruckee.com/Locomotive/No22.htm

Reno or Inyo would probably sell the best.

A Japanese company called Micro Ace makes several N scale tank engines of Japanese prototypes that could pass for European. They make a 2-4-0T, 2-6-4T,  and a 0-10-0T that I know of.  I have the 2-4-0 and it runs pretty well considering how small the thing is, and is modeled on a prototype from Vulcan. http://www.enuii.org/vulcan_foundry/photographs/locomotives/no%20614%20Imperial%20Japan%20Railway%20first%20loco%201871.jpg

Kato also makes a Japanese 2-6-4T, that looks the same as the Micro Ace 2-6-4T.