A very nice article was posted in Zelda Universe about how Spirit Tracks, and future titles, are creeping its way into the future. It gives both sides of the arguement, like how it would help the Zelda series, or how it would crush the "Zelda feel". It is very well written, very funny, and VERY long.

Here is a passage from the article:

"In the hundred years since Phantom Hourglass, it can be assumed land was finally found, peopled, agricultured, civilized and the beginnings of a technological culture have formed. In the real world, trains and horses lived side-by-side for a time before the internal combustion engine gave everyone wheels. I believe that this new Zelda takes place in a similar grace period. The beginning of an industrial revolution – but just the beginning.