A satire on the coming age of free-running steam carriages (which largely never materialized, but see Walter Hancock).

The two large steam coaches are named "The Infernal Defiance — From Yarmouth to London" and "The Dreadful Vengeance — Colchester, London". On the rear of the coach in front is a banner proclaiming "Warranted free from Damp", the small delivery wagon has "Bread served Hot" on its side, and the service station proclaims "Coals Sold Here: only 4s. 6d. per Pound(?)"

As documented in Paul Johnson's book The Birth of the Modern, the early British railroad companies used their political influence to preclude possible competition from free-running steam coaches (which may not have been ultimately too practicable at that time anyway...)