- BSK
- British Railways’ nomenclature for Brake Second Korridor (sic): i.e. a carriage having a side corridor and only second class compartments, plus space for the Guard. [K used to differentiate Corridor from Composite].
- BTK
- British Railways’ nomenclature for Brake Third Korridor (sic). See above.
- Buffer
- A sprung point of contact between vehicles of the train. The buffers absorb shocks when the train bunches.
- Buffer Beam
- A large piece of timber or steel spanning the width of a locomotive, to which the buffers are attached. They are called a head stock
 on Wagons and Carriages.
- Buffer Lock
- This condition occurs on sharp curves especially when vehicles of unequal length are coupled. As two vehicles move onto the curve the inner buffers will compress and move towards the centre of the track, the underframe being rigid. However, the buffers on the longer vehicle will move further and if the curve is sharp enough they may slip inside those of the shorter vehicle. At that point they are no longer operating as buffers and when the curve straightens out they are now locked dangerously and will probably force the vehicles off the track.
- Bulldogs
- Nickname for “D” Locomotive class.
- Bulleid valve gear
- A steam-locomotive valve gear, which in principle is similar to Walschaerts valve gear, but where the combination lever and eccentric rod are driven by chains from the driving axle. Named after its designer O.V.S. Bulleid.
- Bullhead Rail
- The rail has a cross-section like a letter I. Bullhead has the top and bottom piece the same width, while the top piece is deeper. The rail is made from rolled steel. The rail is attached to the sleepers with chairs and keys.
- Bullion Van
- A passenger rated van designed to carry bullion securely. In the days of the Gold Standard physical gold was regularly sent to and fro across the Atlantic. Bullion Vans were to be found only on trains between London Euston and Liverpool Riverside.
- Bunker
- A place to hold coal on an locomotive without a tender. Usually placed behind the footplate.
- Burrowing Junction
- Arrangement of tracks at a major junction where one or more running lines were carried beneath others in a (usually short) tunnel, thus avoiding conflicting movements. The most noteworthy burrowing junctions were at Crewe (Independent Lines, between Basford Hall goods yard and sorting sidings and the main lines north of Crewe passenger station) and Euston/Chalk Farm; both dating from the turn of the century. Tunneling was a costly form of construction which could be justified only at the busiest locations.
- Bury, Edward (1794—1858)
- In 1836 Edward Bury contracted to work the London & Birmingham Railway’s trains, but this contract system — by which he was to be paid on a mileage basis, per passenger and per ton — was never implemented and from 1839 he was employed as Manager of the L&BR Locomotive Department. On the formation of the LNWR he became Locomotive Superintendent of that company’s Southern Division, but resigned with effect from March 1847.
Later Bury became General Manager and Locomotive Engineer of the Great Northern Railway. He also advised on the building of three railway works, Swindon, Wolverton and Doncaster. 
- Butter Van
- A refrigerated van intended to carry butter.
- By-pass Valves
- By-Pass Valves were provided to reduce ‘pumping’ in the cylinders when coasting by allowing a passage of direct access between both ends of the cylinders. The action of opening the regulator caused the by-pass valves to close and the normal power/exhaust resumed.
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