- Bicycle Van
- In the 1890s the new bicycle became very popular - almost a craze - and in 1900 the LNWR constructed some vans specially equipped for the conveyance of cycles. These could be used either to transport new cycles from the manufacturer or for cycling clubs’ excursions. These vans were known as “Boff Vans” from the name of the guard who suggested the design of the racks to hold the bicycles. After WW1 these vans were altered into passenger brake vans.
- “Bill Bailey” Locomotive Class
- Nickname for 1400 4-6-0 Locomotive class
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- Birkenhead Railway
- The Birkenhead Railway, jointly owned by the LNWR and Great Western, ran from Birkenhead (Woodside passenger station and Birkenhead docks) to Chester and from Chester to Acton Grange East Junction, on the LNWR main line south of Warrington, with a branch from Hooton to Helsby and a (single-line) branch from Hooton to West Kirby, where it connected with the Wirral Railway. From Acton Grange the Great Western had running powers to Manchester Exchange, for passengers, and Liverpool Road, for goods.
- Birmingham & Derby Railway (BDR)
- Not part of LNWR.
- Birmingham & Gloucester Railway
- Opened from Gloucester to a temporary terminus at Camp Hill in Birmingham on 17th December 1840 and extended to Birmingham New Street in 17th August 1841. In November 1842 through carriages were introduced between Euston and Gloucester. The BGR shared many directors and senior personnel with the LBR including J.E. McConnell and Captain C.R.Moorsom and Captain W.S.Moorsom. The BGR was absorbed into the Midland Railway in 1845.
- Bissell Tank 0-4-2T Locomotive Class
- In 1896 Mr. Webb introduced a class of 0-4-2 square saddle tanks for work in docks, and 20 were built in by early 1902. To enable them to negotiate sharp curves, they had a coupled wheelbase of only 7ft 6in, and Bissell truck at the rear with solid wheels.
- Bissell Truck
- A two-wheeled truck designed to allow radial movement, where the pivot point was in rear of the axle.
- Blast Pipe
- Spent steam from the cylinders is vented through the blast pipe, which is positioned just below the chimney. Thus the steam escapes to the atmosphere with characteristic chuff-chuff sound. As the steam rushes from the blast pipe it take some air in the smoke box with it, thus creating a partial vacuum, which draws fumes and hot gases though the boiler from the firebox.
- Block Bell
- Bells which are used for communication between signal boxes using a code of rings to describe the class of train and pass other information.
- Block Instrument
- An electrically operated indicating device used in a signal box. The instrument is connected with a similar device in an adjacent signal box, and can be set to indicate whether or not the block section between the two signal boxes is occupied by a train.
- Block Section
- The length of track between the most advanced starting signal controlled by one signal box and the outermost home signal controlled by the next signal box. Entrance to this section of track is controlled by a signal which for safety reasons is normally at danger and hence the section remains ‘blocked’ by this signal until a ‘line-clear’ telegraphic-message is obtained from the block post in advance.
- Block Shelf
- A shelf (usually placed in front of the signalman above the levers) occupied by the block instruments together with signal, and point repeaters and plungers etc.
- Block Signalling
- A length of track is divided into a number of block sections. With Absolute block signalling only one train is allowed into the block section at a time. With Permissive Block Working more than one goods trains is allowed to enter the section. Signal boxes either side of the block control entry and report exit from the block using bell codes.
- Block System
- See Block Signalling above.
- Bloomer Locomotive Class
- The most famous engines on the Southern Division were the ‘Bloomers’. They were introduced in 1851 and were inside-cylinder inside-frame single-wheelers. Designed by McConnell. See also Extra Large Bloomer, Large Bloomer, and Small Bloomer.
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