---
title: "Letter Recognition Train"
id: 76485
type: "computer_media"
slug: "letter-recognition-train"
url: "http://localhost/computer_media/letter-recognition-train/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/computer_media/letter-recognition-train.md"
published_at: "2026-11-11T08:02:42+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-11-11T08:02:42+00:00"
author: "David Anderson"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/letter-recognition-train-1.png"
excerpt: "A letter recognition game for young children: a train chugs across the screen and stops at a wall until the child presses the letter shown."
post_tag:
  - name: "Downloadable"
    slug: "downloadable"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/downloadable/"
  - name: "TS 1000"
    slug: "ts1000"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/ts1000/"
  - name: "ZX81"
    slug: "zx81"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/zx81/"
model:
  - name: "Sinclair ZX81"
    slug: "zx81"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/zx81/"
  - name: "Timex/Sinclair 1000"
    slug: "ts-1000"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/ts-1000/"
indiv:
  - name: "Gene Alvarez"
    slug: "gene-alvarez"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/gene-alvarez/"
genre:
  - name: "Education"
    slug: "education"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/education/"
media_type: "Program"
programmers:
  - name: "Gene Alvarez"
    slug: "gene-alvarez"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/gene-alvarez/"
download_url: "https://archive.org/download/timex-sinclair-software-archive/Letter%20Recognition%20Train%20%281983%29%28Alvarez%2C%20Gene%29%28TS1000%29%28US%29%28Program%29.zip"
mediadate: "1983"
images:
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/letter-recognition-train-1.png"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/letter-recognition-train-2.png"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/letter-recognition-train-3.png"
article_media:
  - id: 19500
    title: "Letter Recognition Train"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/letter-recognition-train/"
media_type_tags: "Education"
license: false
---

# Letter Recognition Train

A reading readiness program. A steam train chugs across the screen and stops at a wall that shows a randomly chosen letter. When the child presses the matching key, the train moves on and a new letter appears; a wrong key keeps the train standing.

The article suggests short sessions totaling about an hour a month, and showing a child who gets frustrated which row of keys holds the right letter. Lines 1040-1050 save the program and run it again. Runs in 2K.

Published in Syntax June 1983 ([Letter Recognition Train](https://timexsinclair.com/article/letter-recognition-train/)).

## Source Code

```
  40 REM ***********************
  50 REM *        TRAIN        *
  60 REM *FOR READING READINESS*
  70 REM * BY: E.ALVAREZ, 1982 *
  80 REM ***********************
  90 RAND
 100 LET L$=CHR$ (RND*25+38)
 200 FOR N=0 TO 31
 300 PRINT AT 9,N;" ▛▜ ▖▖▐"
 310 PRINT AT 10,N;" ██████▘"
 320 PRINT AT 11,N;" ▀▀OOO▀▚"
 330 PRINT AT 8,N;"      ▒"
 335 PRINT AT 11,N;" ▀▀000▀▚"
 340 IF N=28 THEN GOSUB 1000
 350 NEXT N
 360 PRINT AT 9,5;"▒"
 370 PRINT AT 9,5;" "
 380 IF INKEY$="" THEN GOTO 340
 390 IF INKEY$<>L$ THEN GOTO 400
 391 SCROLL
 394 GOTO 100
 400 PRINT AT 11,7;" "
 410 GOSUB 1000
 420 GOTO 380
1000 PRINT AT 10,7;"█"
1010 PRINT AT 11,7;L$
1020 PRINT AT 12,7;"█"
1030 RETURN
1040 SAVE "TRAIN"
1050 RUN
```