So it turns out that while I wasn’t paying attention, Nintendo released a second trailer for the upcoming Zelda title, Spirit Tracks. And... what’s this...? they redesigned the train??

What can I say but heck yes. The new train is so darn cool I just had to draw it. And while I was at it, I figured why not draw the old one too just to emphasize the change.

The old one... pretty much looked like an exceptionally crude replica of the Stephensons’ Rocket ([link]). Built out of a barrel. (What is it with Nintendo and barrel trains, anyway??) I wouldn’t be surprised if Nintendo wanted to bring Hyrule into the railroad age slowly, but anyone capable of forging a sword could have built something better than that! The new train... looks solid. Metallic. Classy. Worthy of the Hyrulian name!

If I dare say so myself, it rather resembles a baby cousin of the train I first drew in response to Spirit Tracks [link] . Note the high headlight (yes, that’s a headlight— not a horn or something!) and Hylian crest on each. (Not to mention the much-needed pilot/buffer beam, and a conventional wheel arrangement!) The new train does share a number of characteristics with its predecessor, though... these include its stocky proportions, upwards slanting boiler, lack of drive wheel quartering, and a pair of crazily sliding cylinders that apparently defy Newton’s Third Law of Motion (or do they?? [link]).


In conclusion— congrats on a good design, Ninty. (But seriously... no A+ until you fix that smokebox! XD)



Both train designs © Nintendo