Watch it draw itself · tap to replay
How to Draw a Cargo Train
Draw a cargo train in 13 easy steps, about 10 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.
Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: the engine.
Step 1: The engine
On the left, draw a long low boiler with a round front corner, and a tall cab box behind it.
Tip Keep the engine small and low. Three wagons have to fit on the page behind it.
Step 2: Chimney, roof, window
Draw a funnel chimney on the boiler and a flat roof on the cab. Add a window in the cab.
Step 3: Engine wheels
Under the engine, draw 2 big round wheels with a dot in the middle. Add a pointed cowcatcher in front.
Tip Trace round a coin to get wheels that are really round.
Step 4: Box car
Behind the engine, leave a small gap. Draw a tall box, with a big door in the middle.
Tip The door stands on the floor of the box, like a tall letter n.
Step 5: Tank car
Leave a gap. Draw a flat bed with a long pill tank on it. Add a hatch and 2 bands.
Tip The tank is twice as long as it is tall, with round ends.
Step 6: Coal car
Leave a gap. Draw a tub, wide at the top. Pile 3 round coal bumps above its rim.
Tip The middle coal bump is the tallest.
Step 7: Six wagon wheels
Under each wagon, draw 2 round wheels with a dot in the middle. Make all 6 the same size.
Step 8: Couplings and track
Start at each car's back. Draw a short line and stop at the next car. Add a long track underneath.
Step 9: Puffs of smoke
Above the chimney, draw 3 bumpy puffs of smoke drifting back, each one bigger than the last.
Tip The smoke trails behind because the train is rolling to the left.
Step 10: Sky and yellow
Colour the cab window sky blue. Colour the box car yellow.
Step 11: Red engine
Colour the engine red, around the window.
Step 12: Grey and blue
Colour the tank, the cowcatcher and all 8 wheels grey. Colour the coal car blue.
Step 13: Black coal
Colour the coal, the chimney, the cab roof, the hatch and the flat bed black. Leave the smoke white.
Tip Go over your lines to finish. Your cargo train is ready to roll!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a cargo train, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
