Class by Augeas

Puzzle explanation

Second letters of extra words read “Third July, nineteen thirty-eight, Stoke Bank”, the date and location of the still-standing speed record for a steam locomotive, set by the locomotive Mallard (no. 4468), designed by Sir Nigel Gresley. Streak is an unofficial name for A4 class locomotives, including Mallard, which was originally painted blue. All highlighting was ignored when marking entries.

The accepted record of 126 miles per hour is confirmed in the Chambers Biographical Dictionary entry for Gresley, on the plaque attached to Mallard’s boiler (shown here), and elsewhere. No alternatives were accepted.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra word Answer Explanation
Across
1 S[t]range NATURE STRIPS NATURE + STRIPS
9 t[h]rough AIRN A1 + R + N
10 V[i]etnamese RABAT 2 meanings
12 p[r]ofess ATAXY AY around TAX
13 a[d]vised RIFELY RELY around IF
15 O[j]ibwa LASSIE LASSI + E(lderberry)
16 p[u]ll WORLD-CLASS WORLD + CLASS
18 f[l]aps WIGWAG WIGWAM with G for (ca)M(ps)
24 s[y]stem RYOKAN RAN around (Y + OK)
27 i[n]itially BANDOLEERS (BANDOLEERS + EL GUNSMITH) * = (MEANING SHOULDER-BELTS) *
28 l[i]ttle LYINGS (shilly-shal)LYING S(coundrels)
30 a[n]giosperms URSULA LAURUS *
31 f[e]ver’s AMBLE MB in ALE
34 a[t]titude SWEIR S(candalising) W(orkers) E(ven) I(n) R(ussia)
35 r[e]jecting IDÉE (m)I(d)D(l)E(m)E(n)
36 W[e]ek HORRIFYINGLY (TERRIFYING in HOLY) − TE(rm)
Down
1 e[n]closures NARROW ARR in NOW
2 s[t]arts AIL AI + L(iver)
3 s[h]unning UNDERW(EIGHT) UNDER(n) + W(atching) + EIGHT
4 m[i]schief EAT ATE *
5 A[r]abian SEALCH SEA LOCH − O; ref. Loch Long
6 s[t]eeplejack RAYS homophone of RAISE
7 s[y]nod PANISC SPAIN * + C
8 r[e]asty STREAK R in STEAK
11 c[i]vet BUSSU (ba)BU’S SU(mac)
14 a[g]ed FOG F(lourishing) O(n) G(ranite)
17 c[h]eques LAYERED DELAYER *
19 a[t]tire DOESKIN (DO IN) around ESK(y)
20 a[s]sessment (FOUR)-FLUSH OUR in F-FLUSH
21 A[t]kins (FOUR)-BY-TWO FOUR BY TWO (multiplied) gives EIGHT, a homophone of one of the pronunciations for ATE
22 v[o]cational (SIX)AINE SIX + AÎNÉ
23 u[k]ase ROSBIF F after BORIS *
25 b[e]leaguered KRU homophone of CREW
26 o[b]edient NIAMEY (I + AM) in YEN <
29 l[a]cking NAIR N + AIR
32 i[n]eptly LOY (emp)LOY(ment)
33 S[k]i GEL LEG <
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