my points would be:
train is a nice model. Spend more time texturing it up.
The sign animation is absolutley nuts!! tone it down big time!! less is more!
Turn on motion blur!!
The smoke out of a steam train is white (because it's not actually smoke it's steam ) and it's much denser than how you have it now. I like the black smoke it's well done (maybe it could move a little slower how about adding a drag field to it?)
The point already made about how long a train like that takes to keep move is very true.
As for your idea about the robots... i have to say I think it's odd. Why would an old steam train in the middle of the countryside be transporting robots? I get the feeling you're doing it because you want to link the two together for the sake of it. If you want to do the robot go for it ( i would highly recommend AGAINST doing a robot but that's up to you). I looked at your website and you have some nice stuff there and i know you have better ideas (from looking at your sketches) than to do a robot!! I really like the sketch of the army guy in the beige fatigues i think that would be a good model for you to do. Admittedly it's much harder than a robot but I think i t would be worth it.
Alan
Technical Director - Framestore
Currently working on: Your Highness
IMDB