How to Draw Trains

Drawing can be fun -- and it's not as hard as you may think. One of the secrets of drawing is that any object can be broken down into its smaller parts.

By following these step-by-step instructions, you can use this secret to learn to draw many different kinds of trains. By copying these pictures, you will learn basic drawing skills. You will be able to use those skills to draw other trains... or even other objects!

How to Draw a Train Caboose
Learn to draw this caboose and more with our easy instructions.

Before you start drawing, there are some basic tools you need. Make sure you have a pencil, a pencil sharpener, an eraser, a felt-tip pen, and grid paper where you'll make your drawings.

Throughout this article, the sketches start with larger basic shapes. Draw the full shape, even if all of it will not be seen in the final drawing. You can erase the part you don't need later.

Each consecutive step adds more detail until you have the finished drawing. The steps are colored to show exactly what to draw when: The drawings for each new step are shown with red lines, while the lines from previous steps are shown in gray.

After all the steps are drawn, use a felt-tip pen to trace the pencil lines. Go over only the lines you need in the final drawing. After giving the felt-tip ink some time to dry so it won't smear, use an eraser to erase the extra pencil lines.

And there's your completed picture! The next step is learning to color the train.

Start off by using coloring tools that are familiar to you. For example, if you enjoy coloring with crayons, use them. When you get more comfortable with coloring, you can try other methods like colored pencils, watercolor paints, markers, or even colored chalk. Try different techniques on the drawings to see what looks best.

When you are ready to start coloring, pick colors that seem to fit the drawing best. Start by lightly adding the main color to the drawing. Remember to keep the colors light at first -- it is much easier to make a color darker than it is to make it lighter.

After the main color is finished, gently add darker colors to areas on the train that would be in shadows or less light. Adding colors this way is called shading, and it helps the drawing to look more realistic.

After shading the drawing, add lighter colors where more light would be. This is called highlighting, and it is usually done on the top areas of the shapes in the drawing. Think of sunlight coming down and lighting the train from above.

Look at the color pictures in the article and try to copy the light and dark shading of the colors. Once you fill in all the colors, your illustration is complete!

In this article, you'll learn how to draw several different kinds of trains, from steam engines to bullet trains. Here's a preview:
  • How to Draw Steam Engines
    Steam into the past with our first project. Recall the early days of the railroad while you learn to draw steam engines.

  • How to Draw Boxcars
    Now that you've mastered steam engines, you're ready to make the whole train. Add boxcars to your railroad, and you'll really be in business.

  • How to Draw Tanker Cars
    Mix things up with your train's cargo load -- add a tanker car or two with these easy instructions.

  • How to Draw Bullet Trains
    Faster than a speeding bullet! Learn to draw these quick trains, the newest thing in railroad transportation.

  • How to Draw Flatcars
    Give your trains more cargo room with this project. Learn to draw flatcars, and then your trains can haul nearly anything.

  • How to Draw a Caboose
    No train is complete without its final car. Bring up the rear with this easy-to-draw caboose.

  • How to Draw a Diesel Engine
    Diesel engines are a common sight on modern railways. Learn to draw them with these simple instructions.

Full steam ahead! Let's get started with our first project -- on the next page, you'll find easy instruction for drawing a steam engine.

Want more help learning to draw? See:

How to Draw Steam Engines

Choo-choo! Every kid loves a steam engine -- and lots of grownups do, too. Use our easy instructions to draw your own steam engine, or an entire train yard full of them.

How to Draw Steam Engines
Learn to draw this steam engine using our easy instructions.

In this section, we'll show you how to draw the above steam engine. Either draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. Here, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.

How to Draw Steam Engines: Draw the main body of the steam engine.

Step 1: Draw a square for the cab section of the steam engine. To the left of the cab, add a long rectangle with a curved front. Sketch a long rectangular shape (with a notch toward the back) for the bottom section.

How to Draw Steam Engines: Add bells and a smokestack.

Step 2: Draw two curved half-ovals on top of the front section to create bells. Sketch a curved rectangle to form the cab's roof. Add a rectangle toward the front of the engine to create the smokestack. Draw other rectangular details on the side. Add a curved wedge shape to the front.

How to Draw Steam Engines: Draw windows and details on the engine.

Step 3: Just above the wedge, draw a slightly angled rectangle. Draw two rectangles for the cab windows. Add more rectangles for details on the engine side. Draw a small curved rectangle at the bottom of each bell. Add an arched shape at the front of the car and at the top of the smokestack. Add rectangular shapes at the back end to create the device that links train cars together.

How to Draw Steam Engines: Add wheels to the engine.

Step 4: Draw four wheels -- three large ones toward the back end and one smaller one at the front end. Sketch three curved bars on the boiler section to add detail. Add a diamond on the side of the cab and a few more rectangular details. Sketch a half-oval on the linking unit at the back of the car.

How to Draw Steam Engines: Draw a whistle and detail shapes.

Step 5: Add bars to the front cab window and a squared shape to the back window. Sketch a whistle coming off the bell closest to the cab. Draw a rectangle between the front and back wheels and some other detail shapes by the wheels to start forming the piston section. Add a wedge on the scoop and a rectangle on the front of the car. Add a few more shapes for details on the side of the engine.

How to Draw Steam Engines: Finish the piston sections, roof, and structural details.

Step 6: Sketch several long, thin rectangles to finish the piston sections, roof, and structural details on the engine's side.

How to Draw Steam Engines: Trace the final drawing with a felt-tip pen.

Step 7: Trace the pencil lines you want to keep with a felt-tip pen. Erase any extra lines. Use a clean eraser to remove pencil lines. This helps avoid pencil smudges on the paper.

Once you've mastered steam engines, your engines will need some freight to haul. Continue to the next page, where you'll learn to draw boxcars to go with your steam engine.

Want more help learning to draw? See:

How to Draw Boxcars

Ride the rails in your imagination -- follow the easy, step-by-step instructions on this page to draw your own boxcars.

How to Draw Boxcars
Draw this boxcar using the easy directions on this page.

In this section, we'll show you how to draw the above boxcar. Either draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. Here, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.

How to Draw Boxcars: Begin the boxcar.

Step 1: Start the boxcar with one large rectangle. Add long, skinny rectangles to the top and bottom of the main rectangle (they should be a little longer than the main rectangle).

How to Draw Boxcars: Add a door to the boxcar.

Step 2: Draw a large rectangle in the center section of the car for the doorway. Sketch a thin, vertical rectangle on both sides of the door and another at both ends of the car. Add an angularly shaped line underneath the boxcar to create the bottom of the car.

How to Draw Boxcars: Add wheels to the boxcar.

Step 3: Draw four wheels made up of circles within circles. Add four more thin vertical rectangles, two at the front end and two at the back. Sketch two small rectangles at the bottom of the center section, and add a rectangle within a rectangle to the middle of the car.

How to Draw Boxcars: Add details to the boxcar.

Step 4: Draw thin, diagonal rectangles in each section of the side (except in the middle). Connect the wheels with an axle structure as shown. Sketch two triangles and a rectangle in each axle to add detail. Finish this step with two coupling forms, one at each end of the boxcar. The coupling forms look like the end of a wrench.

How to Draw Boxcars: Add detail to the boxcar door.

Step 5: Fill in the center section with horizontal lines to create panel detail. Add a few more detail lines in the center and at the ends of the bottom part of the car.

How to Draw Boxcars: Trace the final drawing with a felt-tip pen.

Step 6: Use a felt-tip pen to trace the lines you want to keep. Erase any extra pencil lines.

Want to add even more variety to your train drawings? Go to our next page to learn how to draw tanker cars.

Want more help learning to draw? See:

How to Draw Tanker Cars

Tanker cars are part of every freight train, hauling liquid cargo to its destination. Use our easy instructions to draw your own tanker cars.

How to Draw Tanker Cars
Learn to draw this tanker car using our easy instructions.

In this section, we'll show you how to draw the above tanker car. Either draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. Here, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.

How to Draw Tanker Cars: Draw the body of the tanker car.

Step 1: Draw a long, thin rectangle for the base of the tanker car. On top, add a rectangle that is curved on both ends. Sketch two wedges below the base to create the wheel supports.

How to Draw Tanker Cars: Add wheels to the tanker car.

Step 2: Draw four wheels made up of circles within circles. Add a large circle on one side of the tank. Draw a wedge shape at the top of the tank's center.

How to Draw Tanker Cars: Add details to the tanker car.

Step 3: Sketch two half-circles and a rounded-off rectangle in the circle on the side of the car. Add rectangles for details on the tank's top and side. Draw two thin, vertical rectangles on both ends of the tank to make the supports. Finish them with an arched triangle. Draw a coupling form at each end of the car. These forms look like the end of a wrench. Add a turn wheel at the front of the car.

How to Draw Tanker Cars: Add dimension to the top structure.

Step 4: Draw a curved shape to add dimension to the top structure. Add a long, thin bar that splits the tank in two. Add two curved bars extending up from the tank supports. Sketch a ladder in the center of the car. Finish with two axle structures by the wheels.

How to Draw Tanker Cars: Trace the final drawing with a felt-tip pen.

Step 5: Trace the pencil lines you want to keep with a felt-tip pen. Erase any extra lines.

Your tanker car is ready to haul some freight. When coloring your train, try blending different colors together. This will help make your drawing look more realistic.

Pick up the pace with our next drawing project. On the next page, learn to draw a bullet train.

Want more help learning to draw? See:

How to Draw Bullet Trains

Bullet trains are the latest and greatest way to travel the railways at top speed. Use these step-by-step instructions to draw your own rapid transit.

How to Draw Bullet Trains
Draw bullet trains like this one using the easy instructions below.

In this section, we'll show you how to draw the above bullet train. Either draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. Here, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.

How to Draw Bullet Trains: Draw the body of the engine.

Step 1: Draw a long, rounded shape like a banana to form the train body. Add two curved lines to split the engine section from the passenger car.

How to Draw Bullet Trains: Add rails and wheels to the engine.

Step 2: Draw two long, thin rectangles to make the rails (draw the longer one first and then match the perspective of the shorter rectangle to it). Sketch four half-circles at the back of the train for wheels. Add a rounded window shape at the top of the engine. Draw two curved lines to split the window.

How to Draw Bullet Trains: Add windows and other details to the train.

Step 3: Draw a very skinny, long triangle across the side of the train. Add a rounded rectangle to the passenger section for a window. Sketch a long oval hatch on the bottom of the engine section.

How to Draw Bullet Trains: Add window details and railroad ties.

Step 4: Draw several small, thin rectangles to split the passenger window. Sketch several rectangles between the rails to make the railroad ties. Finish them with small wedge shapes under the first rail.

How to Draw Bullet Trains: Add reflection details to the train.

Step 5: Draw a few curvy and straight lines following the shape of the train. These make reflections on the shiny metal surface of the train.

How to Draw Bullet Trains: Trace the final drawing with a felt-tip pen.

Step 6: Trace the pencil lines you want to keep with a felt-tip pen. Erase any extra lines.

If you have more cargo to haul on your imaginary railway, our next project is for you. Continue to the next page to learn how to draw flatcars.

Want more help learning to draw? See:

How to Draw Flatcars

Flatcars carry cargo from point A to point B, an essential part of any freight train. Use these step-by-step instructions to draw your own flatcars.

How to Draw Flatcars
Learn to draw flatcars using these easy directions.

In this section, we'll show you how to draw the above flatcar. Either draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. Here, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.

How to Draw Flatcars: Begin the main section of the flatcar.

Step 1: Draw a rectangular shape that has a wedge shape coming down from the center bottom. Add two small wedges, one at the front of the car and one at the back. A ruler can help you keep the lines in your drawing nice and straight.

How to Draw Flatcars: Add wheels to the flatcar.

Step 2: Draw four circles for the wheels, two at the front and two in the back. Add two more circles within each wheel. Sketch a post coming up from the front and back of the car bed.

How to Draw Flatcars: Outline the car's structure for depth.

Step 3: Draw thin bars to outline the car's bottom structure for depth. Draw small rectangles along the length of the car for detail.

How to Draw Flatcars: Add axles to the flatcar.

Step 4: Sketch axle shapes as shown to connect the wheels. Add a square and two triangles to each axle for detail. Draw a wrench shape on the front and back of the car.

How to Draw Flatcars: Outline the final drawing with a felt-tip pen.

Step 5: Use a felt-tip pen to trace the lines you want to keep. Erase any extra pencil lines.

Finish up your train with the most important -- and last -- car; on the next page, find easy instructions to draw a caboose.

Want more help learning to draw? See:

How to Draw a Caboose

The caboose is the most important car on any train. Follow the directions below -- don't leave your train without a caboose.

How to Draw a Caboose
Learn to draw this caboose using our easy instructions.

In this section, we'll show you how to draw the above caboose. Either draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. Here, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.

How to Draw a Caboose: Draw the body of the caboose.

Step 1: Draw a large rectangle for the body of the caboose. Add a long, thin, rounded-off rectangle on the top (it should be longer than the big rectangle). Sketch a shape with lots of angles to become the bottom of the car (make sure it extends past the first rectangle).

How to Draw a Caboose: Add wheels to the caboose.

Step 2: Draw four wheels made up of circles within circles. Sketch a long line to add depth to the roof, and draw a small rectangle on top of the roof.

How to Draw a Caboose: Add an axle and details to the caboose.

Step 3: Draw a long, skinny bar across the car's side. Connect the wheels with an axle structure as shown, and draw two triangles and a rounded rectangle in each axle to add detail. Add windows to the small upper rectangle. Sketch a rectangle between the sets of wheels, and add two vertical rectangles with rounded ends for detail.

How to Draw a Caboose: Add windows to the caboose.

Step 4: Draw three windows on the side of the caboose. Add a small rectangular hatch on the car's lower side. Draw three stacked rectangles for steps on both ends of the caboose (start with the bottom step, and make each new rectangle a little shorter than the last one).

How to Draw a Caboose: Add details to the caboose.

Step 5: Draw railings on both ends and on top of the small roof box. Add a pipe coming out of the roof's center and two half-circles and a wedge shape at the back to create a turnwheel. Add a shape like the end of a wrench to both ends of the caboose.

How to Draw a Caboose: Trace the final drawing with a felt-tip pen.

Step 6: Use a felt-tip pen to trace the lines you want to keep. Erase any extra pencil lines.

The diesel engine is a common sight on modern railways. Keep reading to learn how to draw this ubiquitous engine.

Want more help learning to draw? See:

How to Draw a Diesel Engine

Diesel engines thunder down the track on railroads throughout the world. Learn to draw these workhorse engines using the step-by-step instructions on this page.

How to Draw a Diesel Engine
Draw this diesel engine using the easy directions on this page.

In this section, we'll show you how to draw the above diesel engine. Either draw it freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. Here, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.

How to Draw a Diesel Engine: Draw the body of the engine and add wheels.

Step 1: Draw a long, rounded train shape for the main body of the engine. Add six wheels, four toward the front and two toward the back.

How to Draw a Diesel Engine: Add a wheel guard to the engine.

Step 2: Sketch a slanted rectangle with an angled shape below it to create the wheel guard at the front of the car. Create the rear bottom part of the car with an angular form by the back wheels.

How to Draw a Diesel Engine: Add details to the train body.

Step 3: Draw a big, fat lightning bolt along the length of the car. Add some stacked long, thin rectangles for the windows.

How to Draw a Diesel Engine: Add windows to the engine.

Step 4: Draw three square shapes for the main cab windows. Add geometric shapes such as the ones shown along the lower edge of the cab. These shapes should partly cover the wheels.

How to Draw a Diesel Engine: Add round windows and hatches to the engine.

Step 5: Draw four round windows on the side of the car. Add a door in the center and a couple small rectangular hatches near the front. Sketch a fat, squatty cylinder for a light on the hood.

How to Draw a Diesel Engine: Add windows and a ladder to the engine.

Step 6: Use rectangles and straight vertical lines to create the two upper windows. Sketch a large ladder in the center door. Draw lines on the front of the train and a small oval in the hatch to add detail. Add a coupling hook (shaped like the end of a wrench) to the back of the engine.

How to Draw a Diesel Engine: Trace the final drawing with a felt-tip pen.

Step 7: Trace the pencil lines you want to keep with a felt-tip pen. Erase any extra lines.

All aboard! Now that you've mastered our train-drawing techniques, you can draw any train configurations your imagination can dream up.

Want more help learning to draw? See: