So. Question. In summary, were the early objections against over-the-road locomotion versus over-rails locomotion sound?
Could a slight difference in advocasy by both governmental groups, industrial groups and theoreticians in England in the early 1800s, have made road traffic using smaller steam engines, the primary method of transit in the later 1800s instead of rail transit?
Were the early objections against over-the-road versus rails, sound or imaginary?
It would seem to me that over-the-road would be less efficient in terms of some energy factors, as well as total weights that could be hauled with one locomotive, but you might need to build less in terms of making transit lines and you might get greater versatility in terms of initial and final locations in potential routes as well as scheduling.
Were the railroads of the later 1800s all a big mistake?
I think I will crosspost this to a few sci groups.