Powell was the son of a railwaymen and was at Rugby when Powell opted
to become an engineering apprentice. He was interviewed at Derby Works by
E.S. Cox. Powell's career ended with his rise to being Traction & Train
Crew Manager, BRB (Whitehose and Thomas LMS 150 p. 206). His early
writings were written under the pseudonym of 45671 and this form was used
in Jones. . Phil Atkins met Powell in
the Reading Room at the NRM and calls him a "lovely chap". Sadly, he does
not know why Powell adopted the pseudonym of 45671. Perhaps Prince
Rupert was one which burned its way into his memory, possibly via Rupert
Bear, rather like Giggleswick became the paradigm Patriot for KPJ
Phil suggests that Powell became an unofficial PA to Cox during the time
that the standards were emerging. KPJ has always sensed an anti-LNER bias
in his writings: a.g. on page 61 of Living with... :"the A3s were hopeless
for slogging up the steep gradients of the Waverley route until they got
their double chimneys"..
Living with London Midland locomotives. London: Ian Allan, 1977.156pp.
Originally published in Trains Illustrated under the pseudonym
of 45671. The monograph version includes a short biographical
introduction: he was an engineering apprentice at Derby (he was interviewed
by E.S. Cox) and subsequently obtained an engineering degree. Chapter 1 Boyhood
9; Chapter 2 Derby apprentice (covered in greater detail in Derby apprentice
Trains Illustrated Annual
1959. ; Chapter 3 The mechanical iInspectors: the CME's Link with
motive power; Chapter 4 The Fowler Legacy; Chapter 5 The Stanier influence
and beyond; Chapter 6 Class 5 — the engineman's friend; Chapter 7 Pony
trucks to the fore; Chapter 8: The "Patriots" and "Jubilees". Trains
ill., 1958, 11, 142-8. 4 illus., 2 tables. (Living with L.M.S.
locomotives-3). Chapter 9 A trio of high-born ladies. Trains ill.,
1958, 11, 231-9. 3 illus., 2 tables. (Living with L.M.S.
locomotives— 4).(Pacific classes): Chapter 10 The strong pull. Trains
ill., 1958, 11, 600-6. 2 illus., table. (Living with L.M.S.
locomotives-6) (8F and other freight locomotives); Chapter 11/Good Both Ways;
Chapter 12 The lively 'Royal Scots'; Chapter 13 BR Standard Locomotives:
the aim and the reality; Chapter 14 CME Unrecognised
(Powell's virtual reality)
Stanier locomotive classes. London: Ian
Allan, 1991. 96pp.
A4 format: each locomotive class is considered individually.
