Perhaps this is why I particularly didn’t find the locomotive physics that strange
The reason why you didn’t think it strange is because you don’t know how one works, because there’s multiple things which don’t make sense otherwise.
The drive wheels are not the ones at the back but the ones with the connecting rods and piston rods (the pistons provide the drive force). The rods are placed in a way which would prevent the wheels turning if connected in those positions and would typically be placed on the largest wheels of the locomotive (i.e. that big wheel should be the drive wheel if it’s going to be there).
The smoke should be coming from the very front of the locomotive as the output from the firebox needs to run through the boiler (most of the front of the machine) in order to generate the steam needed to actually drive the locomotive. Having it come from the back makes no sense unless the whole boiler arrangement is also reversed and it isn’t.


















It’s normal for a cold start, I haven’t seen a chainsaw which didn’t want at least some throttle to start from cold (old saws might not have the choke/throttle interlock for this but you use your boot to keep it on). Even the pre chain brake saws I’ve used have been like this - you just have to be aware of where you put the saw when starting it.
Hot starts are another matter as they should fire up nicely on idle once warm.