Steam locomotive visual improvements

I have absolutely no say in this. so take this with a grain of salt, but the design for the steam locomotive Irks me
It's very obviously a gear driven locomotive which I think is super cool, but the drive cylinders are in two straight configurations and they rotate perpendicular to the locomotive's long axis.
that design is to my knowledge entirely unique to the locomotive in this game, (which isn't a bad thing mind you) but I'd wager that there's some engineering... challenges.
the steam locomotive also has smoke deflectors which do look pretty cool but for the industrial purpose, and slow speeds that the locomotives operate at they would be pretty much purely decorative.
I again have no say in what the final product looks like but I would recommend taking some design cues from the Shay Locomotive if you'd like it to be a geared locomotive.
some particular things I'd like to point out would be the exposed gears on the side of the locomotive, along with it being asymmetric. thanks!