JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post [And yes! Four hyphens in the title!]
Here’s a found bit from the Journal of the Franklin Institute, 1833, on a rumbling beast that would have been seen as the great technological achievement it was: a 12,000-lb land carriage connector between London and Birmingham. The report1 was made by the great Thomas Telford, engineer and builder of roads/bridges/canals as president of the Society of Civil Engineers, and a host of others, on the possibility of Sir Charles Dance’s steam carriage being capable of implementing a transport service using existing roads. 
[Sir Charles Dance’s vehicle, ca. 1833. Source: wikipedia entry for Sir Charles Dance, motorist.]