Some Suggestions

[RIC0H]

These are some things I would like to have tweaked on a second playthrough (not the first)

Remove the red bar (when your train is stationary)
I want to take my time and explore things on a 2nd playthrough.

Remove the train timer (time needed to get to the mission on train view)
Think this only happens on 2 of the chapters, but again I would rather take my time and explore a little.

Remove the limit of how may arty strikes you can have in a mission.
If you have 2 arty shells on your train, then only 2 can be used in a mission
If you have 20 arty shells on your train, then 20 can be used in a mission.
(The arty shells are stored on the train where the arty is fired from, so it makes no sense to restrict the number of shells you can use on a mission since the ammo is stored in the same place the arty is being fired from (the train itself)).

[General][Custer]

1. you can cheese that after changing the chapter. The red bar dosen't fill and you can do all the upgrades you want. Removing the red bar in general makes the game super boring, because all the other games mechanics rely on there being pressure.

2. as above, what is there to explore Lake 12545? No fish, tough luck.

3. it makes sense because you can't design a mission around people hoarding arty shells. You want to have a consistent difficulity in all missions and restricting arty is a good way of doing that.

If you really want and like all that stuff then just use cheats. Exploring just gives you more stuff and random encounters. The Story Missions you get depend on the path you take ingame, not the random encounters.

[The Mighty Mulletman]

The timers are quite generous and the trains fast.
If you have an arty cart with machine guns manned you'll survive an attack or two no problem. Don't feel too rushed. It's a chance to get your guys some xp.

If you're stopping as often as you can, your storage carts will be filled to the rafters long before you get to the port.
I stopped stopping and exploring when I the weather got to - 4 degrees.
The kitchen cart helps make food a none-issue so no more stopping for hunting or fishing.

If you want to fire more shells, all you need are more artillery carts. There is an achievement for firing artillery 8 times in a single mission.

[RIC0H]

Well it can just be made an option to tweak in the game mode settings.

So if people want them removed, they can tick a box.
If people don't want them removed, then they can leave the box unticked.

Regarding the arty, it's a SP game, who cares how many shells I fire in my playthrough.
If I fire 1 or 100 it doesn't matter, it doesn't affect anyone else.