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How to Draw a Signal Box

14 steps · Medium · about 11 min

Draw a signal box in 14 easy steps, about 11 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 bottom floor.

Step 1: The bottom floor
In the middle of your paper, a little low, draw a wide box for the brick bottom floor.
Step 2: The top floor
On top of the bottom floor draw a slightly wider box for the top floor.
Tip The signalman works up here, pulling big levers to change the signals.
Step 3: The roof
Draw a pointed roof over the top floor, sticking out a little past both sides.
Step 4: Big windows
Across the top floor draw 4 tall windows side by side, nearly filling the wall.
Step 5: The levers
In the middle of each window draw one lever: a stick from the sill up to a round black knob.
Step 6: Door and window
On the bottom floor draw a door down to the bottom edge and a square window beside it.
Step 7: The stairs
Against the right side draw zigzag steps going down from the top floor to the bottom, like an outside staircase.
Step 8: Stair rail
From a high step draw a short post, then a rail down to a short post on a low step.
Step 9: Ground and tracks
Draw a long ground line. Stand a row of flat sleeper blocks on it and lay one long rail on top.
Tip The rail passes in front of the building, so it hides the bottom of the walls.
Step 10: A signal
On the left draw a signal post standing on the ground, with a flat arm and a lamp on top.
Step 11: The sun
Draw a small sun with short rays in the top right corner.
Step 12: Cream top, yellow sun
Colour the top floor cream and the sun yellow. Leave the windows white.
Step 13: Red bricks and signal
Colour the bottom floor brick red around the door and window, and colour the signal arm red.
Step 14: Brown and grey
Colour the door, stairs and sleepers brown, then the roof and rail grey. Your signal box is done!