Shay component identification

Hi - newbie here, jumping right in.

This is related to a photo of unknown #6 on the Shay Locomotives site.



As far less than a steam engine expert, I wonder if anyone could tell me what the "cylinder" at the bottom / near end of the wood stack is on this engine? To my eyes, it has an electrical look about it.

It's just below what looks to be a shovel blade with a very short handle.

There is a pipe coming out of it which then goes between the step straps, and may connect to the bottom of the boiler T?

There also appears to be a short elbow section of piping below it, under the deck.

Also - speaking of the deck, I think I can see indications of individual boards, but can't be certain of this - any opinions?

I'll also add a photo of unknown #5, which could be the same engine, although it has a very different water tank. Perhaps the original steel tank was damaged beyond repair in a wreck?



There are certainly similarities between the engines/photos, particularly the pilot beams (with the pilot step bent at the same angle) and what I take to be the brake air tank. I think the cab is the same, although at first it looked different based on the two perspectives.

I can't swear this is NG, but the rail weight (along the river) sure looks to be very light. However, image #5 clearly indicates that the cylinders slope (note the cab extension), and I've read this is done to align things when a small diameter boiler is on a SG frame.

thanks, Charles