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How to Draw a Cog Railway

13 steps · Medium · about 10 min

Draw a cog railway 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 tilted car.

Step 1: The tilted car
In the middle, draw a box car tilted so its right end is higher. Add a thin roof on top.
Tip Everything tilts the same way: the train is climbing a steep mountain.
Step 2: The round face
On the front, uphill end of the car, draw a BIG circle nearly as tall as the car.
Step 3: Big eyes and smile
In the circle draw 2 round eyes with black dots and shines, and a wide smile under them.
Step 4: Window and stripe
Behind the face draw a long rounded window with a bar down its middle. Add a thin stripe under it.
Step 5: Frame and wheels
Under the car draw a thin frame. Under each end draw a round wheel with a dot in the middle.
Step 6: The cog wheel
Between the 2 wheels, draw a cog wheel tucked under the frame, with chunky square teeth and a dot.
Tip The cog's teeth grip the rack so the train cannot slide back.
Step 7: Rail and rack
Draw a slanted rail under the wheels, nearly edge to edge. Add a line below it, joined by short teeth.
Step 8: Mountain and snow
From the rail's left end draw 2 peaks, tall then small, down to the rail's right end. Add snow caps.
Tip The mountain lines stop behind the train: it hides them.
Step 9: Yellow stripe, sky window
Go over your lines. Colour the stripe yellow and the window sky blue.
Step 10: Rosy cheeks
Colour 2 rosy pink cheeks beside the smile. Leave the face and eyes white.
Step 11: Grey mountain, white snow
Colour the mountain light grey around the train. Leave the snow caps white.
Step 12: Red car
Colour the car red, around the window, stripe and face.
Step 13: Slate roof and wheels
Colour the roof, frame, 2 wheels and cog wheel slate grey. Your cog railway is climbing!