This old minstrel song is interesting with its comparisons of different transportation options available to travelers in the early 19th century. No clue to what the tune might be but maybe someone else can tease one out of the archives:
As sung by Christy's celebrated Band of Minstrels; in CHRISTY'S PANORAMA SONGSTER, published by William H. Murphy, NYC, circa 1850, pp. 76.
Rail Road Trabbeler
Oh de steamboat, Oh de steamboat, Oh de steamboat makes a mighty splutter. And when the biler bursts it lands in the water,
Chorus:
Rail Road trabbel's getting all de go, 'Kase the hoss boat and steam boat goes so mighty slow!
Oh de hoss boat, Oh de hoss boat, De hoss boat can trabble if the weddur wet or dry And noffin can stop you if the old hoss die. (CHO)
Oh de mail coach, Oh de mail coach, Oh de mail coach is good to cure the gout, It will rattle off your buttons, and turn you inside out. (CHO)
Oh de telimagraph, Oh de telimagraph, De telimagraph's good for to transport the lightnen, Or to get the news from Mexico, when the Yankees is a fitin. (CHO)
Oh de bullgermirim, Oh de bullgermirim, De bullgine go so fast, dey trabbel out of sight, And the only way you get to eat, is to stop and take a bite. (CHO)
Notes:
The Mexican War was between 1846 and 1848; The telegraph began to operate in 1840. I'm guessing that a "hoss boat" is a canal boat pulled by a horse although then the last line of the second verse makes no sense to me. The "bullgermirim" or "bullgine" would seem to be a steam locomotive; it is also a general slang term for any steam engine.