Daily Mail 13,239

[Mountainjoe]

Can someone help untangle me please

I have:
25a (Plant stage performer on outskirts of Finchley (7) as FACTORY)
28a (Energy at the back made Brunel's "Great" (7) as EASTERN - originally thought WESTERN, but that didn't seem to work)
25d (Extremely rare unusual fake takes in curator finally (5) as FREAK

Does all this make sense?

Thanks.

[CSIambleside]

They all match my answers.

[squarebear]

25a certainly correct. It's ACTOR inside F inchle Y and factory is a plant.

[Mountainjoe]

Thank you. Sometimes just need reassurance....and I love the idea of CSI Ambleside!!

[sddsddean]

28a This should be BRITAIN, as the Great Britain was the first ocean going 'liner' fitted with a screw propellor (which is at the back). Great Western had paddlewheels and Gt. Eastern had both!

[sddsddean]

PS I haven't done the xword, so no idea if I'm right, but thats what the answer should be!!

[Mountainjoe]

Think we're talking railways rather than ships here....but thanks for taking the time to reply.

[sddsddean]

No, we are talking the 3 ships Brunel built. You don't have energy at the back of a steam locomotive. The original Great Western was his idea to extend the Great Western Railway to New York.

[CSIambleside]

E = energy
Astern = at the back

It's a CRYPTIC crossword not a crossword about the history of shipping.

[sddsddean]

This is why I'm good at quizzes and usueless at crosswords!!! Mind is not warped enough!!

[CSIambleside]

You're obviously an expert on transport, sddsddean. I don't even drive ! So, each to their own.

Sorry for the late reply - been out eating and DRINKING !