I really liked the locations & the timeless/art deco looks. I thought they did a good job being true to the book. They should put out the bracelet as movie merchandise, I would totally buy one! Looking forward to parts 2 & 3! I completely agree with everything you said! My husband and I took today off and went to the first showing in Tucson. It was amazing. I especially enjoyed the locations and "timeless/art deco looks," perfect way you phrased it. And I want a bracelet too!
They did a good job on a very limited budget. Los Angeles stood in for New York, the Union Pacific stood in for Taggart Transcontinental, and Chicago commuter cars and rail yards stood in for passenger trains and Philadelphia.
UP even let them film a "track blitz" where they use a machine to lay track without huge crews of men.
They got a lot of bang for the buck.