Listener Crossword 4248: Solution Notes
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 < |