Listener Crossword 4758: Solution Notes
Tunnel Vision 2 by Chalicea
Puzzle explanation
The extra letters in wordplay of the across clues spelt out “read the ninth down clue letters”. The ninth letters in the down clues gave “the place, time and engineer”. The highlighting of BOX TUNNEL, SUNRISE and ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL in the grid depicted the sunrise showing through Box Tunnel (on the Great Western Main Line between Bath and Chippenham), which was completed in 1841 as the world’s longest railway tunnel. It is said that Brunel designed the tunnel so that the sunrise would be visible through its length on his birthday, 9 April, but recent observations suggest the date is closer to April 6, the birthday of Brunel’s sister Emma Joan. This puzzle was published between those two dates.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation [extra letter] |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | CLAMANT | CLAM + [R]ANT |
| 6 | CARPER | CAR[E] + PER |
| 11 | EMBOX | (d)E[A](d) + M + B + OX |
| 12 | TUNNELS | (STUNNE[D] with letters cycled) around (un)L(it) |
| 13 | SAYER | S[T]AYER |
| 14 | TO-TEAR | T[H]REAT * around O |
| 16 | RETAKING | (A + KING) after RET[E] |
| 17 | DORIS | (a)DOR[N] IS(lets) |
| 18 | DRAP | (R in PA[I]D) < |
| 20 | LEO | [N]OEL < |
| 21 | PARHELIC | (PAR[T]ICLE + H) * |
| 22 | ALMAH | H after [H]ALMA |
| 23 | IAN | [D]IAN |
| 25 | CATKINS | ACTI[O]NS * around K |
| 26 | ABA | [W]BA around A |
| 27 | ABEAR | AB + [N]EAR |
| 28 | PERISARC | (CAR’S PRI[C]E) * |
| 33 | SUN | ([L](i)N(e)-U(p)’S) < |
| 35 | RISE | I in R[U]SE |
| 36 | OATER | TAO < + ER[E] |
| 37 | MONODONT | ([L]ONDON TOM) * |
| 39 | TSURIS | (TRI[E]S US) * |
| 40 | KERNE | [T]REK < + NE |
| 42 | INNARDS | INN + AR[T] + D(im)S |
| 43 | TAILS | (d)[E]TAILS |
| 44 | STEELY | STE[R]E + L + Y |
| 45 | SEAMSET | (SE + AS[S]ET) around M |
| Down | ||
| 1 | CECROPIA MOTHS | (AS ECTOMORPHIC) * |
| 2 | ABATOR | A + BAT + OR |
| 3 | MOYA | MO + AY < |
| 4 | AXE | A + X + (on)E |
| 5 | TURNPIKE ROADS | (DARK ERUPTIONS) * |
| 7 | ANODE | A + NODE |
| 8 | RETOOLS | RES around LOOT < |
| 9 | PLEROMA | (MORE in ALP) < |
| 10 | RORSCHACH TEST | (SCRATCH OTHERS) * |
| 12 | TRIAL | 2 meanings |
| 13 | SENA | N in SEA |
| 15 | AIT | (t)A(x) (ex)I(le) (cul)T(ure) |
| 19 | REAR | 2 meanings |
| 22 | ANIS | (v)ANIS(h) |
| 24 | NEPTUNE | N + EP + TUNE |
| 25 | CASERNE | CASE + RN + E |
| 29 | RINKS | LINKS with R for L |
| 30 | ADONIS | A + DON + IS |
| 31 | RUNE | RUN + E |
| 32 | MAS | SAM < |
| 34 | URIAL | I in URAL |
| 38 | DRAM | 2 meanings |
| 41 | ETA | ATE < |