New Feature Animation

Is Disney/Pixar going to release a 'train inspired' -- feature animation?



I was recently finishing the book, The Pixar Touch, by David Price.  At the end of the book, the author mentions that John Lasseter was putting a 1901 steam locomotive on his property in Glen Ellen, CA; and it just so happens that he was getting the train from none other than Ollie Johnston. The author also says that Lasseter has also purchased a seventy year old train depot from Ward Kimball.  After giving this bit of information, the author surmises that a movie about trains learning a life lesson couldn't be too far along.

After considering the author's speculation, I agree that a train film will eventually come out, but I don't think we will see a train movie that is going to be anthropomorphic trains living and working (too much like Cars, and too much like Thomas the Tank Engine).  But I think we will see a movie that prominently features old and new trains.

So what else brought me to the conclusion that there would be an animation from Pixar about trains?

Well, upon considering the fact that -
1 - Walt Disney loved trains, as did many of his first Imagineers and Nine Old Men.
2 - Disney theme parks feature trains, especially the 'Magic Kingdoms' where the first thing you are greeted by is the train station, and trains.
3 - Apparently John Lasseter loves trains

Lasseter was, and is! a huge car buff, and his love for cars and NASCAR led to the development of Disney/Pixar's "Cars."

So a company whose founder loved trains + A current animation and creative lead (known to develop movies based on his own fascination with things) = a train movie to me.


Now all we need to do is find a few stories about trains, or old tales that could be adopted to a train genre.

Can you think of any stories that feature trains?