only missing the steam to make them work. God forbid that would put too much strain on the air compressor.

With the major expansion to Disneyland Hong Kong, do you think they will purchase another train like they purchased Eureka later in Disneyland Paris?

Also, with Disneyland Shanghai coming up, do you think Disneyland will purchase diesels again for their new park or go back to steam?

Phoney diesels would mean a MAJOR loss of face. And maybe, someone needs to tell them so...

My gut tells me they will do steam outlines as in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, those are cheaper to build, operate and maintain.

Of course, I want them to do real steam engines! Because if they did, it would be a real vote of support for the current steam operations at the other parks.

Would Walt have wanted any park with his name on it to be running trains that only look like steam trains, but are really diesel-powered?

Based on my admittedly very limited exposure to the Chinese people during a two week vacation there last year, I would assume that the latest Disney theme park will also have steam outline locomotives. The Chinese people have not been exposed to Walt Disney, Disney history, or even American history, hence the customer base over there is not too knowledgeable on the important role that steam locomotives played in Disney theme parks or in American history in general. Since the customers don't expect/demand it, I would assume that Disney would take the cheap route as they did with Hong Kong Disneyland.

The people in Hong Kong did know the Disney characters, but everywhere else in the country that I visited, they did not recognize them when I wore Disneyland shirts. The whole concept of hobbies and interests outside of the basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, etcetera) is somewhat unknown there. Big modern cities like Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai get all the media attention here in the US as being "Westernized," but they are the exceptions and not the norm. Most of the country still to this day has very little knowledge of anything having to do with the western world...or any world outside of their home country.

Visiting China was very eye opening for me in that the country is nothing like it has been portrayed here in the US media recently. In many aspects it is a third world country still. But, it's not like the media has ever been accurate in their reporting before so I didn't really expect them to show China correctly either.

Also guys, remember Walt Disney is no longer with us. There are no steam train buffs upstairs at the company any longer.

Also, one other thing. You have to realize that amongst most Chinese people today, they think one thing:

NEW = GOOD

That applies to *everything* in life - cameras, houses, cars, trucks, trains, etcetera. That mind set is buried deep into Chinese people not only in China, but also the ones here in California as well. Why would the Chinese people in Shanghai, a city notorious for demolishing buildings to build brand-spanking new ones in their place practically over night, want their new Disney theme park to have "old technology" steam locomotives in it?

I know about this first-hand as a Chinese American. Chinese people constantly cannot figure out my life-long fascination with old symbols of America like steam trains and my classic Corvette Sting Ray. They cannot fathom why I devote so much of my time and hard earned money on "old pieces of junk." (Yes, that's a direct quote from my ex-girlfriend who was from Wuhan.) I'm almost certain that they'd feel the same way about old world steam locomotives in "their" new park.

I can get an idea of how the Shanghainese people think regarding this because my girlfriend is from there. She absolutely *loves* Disney stuff and Disneyland though, so she wants to see steam locomotives in the new Shanghai Disneyland. She also thinks that my classic Sting Ray is cool too. She's the lone exception though...thankfully!

My girlfriend has an open mind to Americana and American history. I can't say the same thing is true for most of the other Chinese people that I have met during my lifetime.

First let me point out the the Chinese have only recently scrapped their steam locomotives, so they may not miss them yet.

Second John Lassetter is a train man and proud owner of the Marie E. and he is fairly high up in Disney.

The Chinese steam locomotives that were scrapped within the last 10 years like the QJ class were in Northern China, right? Shanghai is far from there. The cities in China are extremely different in many ways, as are their residents...immensely more so than here in the US.

Isn't John Lassiter a consultant to WDI? I didn't think that he actually held a position in Burbank.

No I meant John Lasseter, head of Disney Studios.

John Lasseter is the Principal Creative Advisor to WDI