The Week 1258

[TioMateo]

11Ac Conductors in Boston have nothing to go on after this (4,5) L?S? T?A?N. It looks as if it has to be LAST TRAIN, but why? Clue of the Week :- McEnroe, say, magnificent on grass (9) S???????? (originally in The Independent, Eccles)

[Mamyalynne]

COW Superb rat

[Mamyalynne]

I guess they mean Train conductors.

[TioMateo]

Thanks for CoW, Mamyalynne. I had already inferred they meant Train Conductors, but couldn't/can't see the relevance of Boston. Any ideas?

[Mamyalynne]

A distraction?

poor clue I think.

[TioMateo]

I'm sorry, I don't understand your "a distraction". Please explain. Having checked Chambers, I see that one of the meanings given is "a railway guard (N Am)". So I suspect the N Am is the justification for Boston. Do you agree?

[CrikeyMoses]

Yes, it's an indication that a conductor is a train guard specifically in the US, and Boston is a misdirection to make you think of the famous Boston Symphony Orchestra.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes, I meant misdirection and not distraction - poor wording from me.