This is probably ironic. Railway companies were notorious for their indifference to the welfare of passengers. However; it was common, especially among non-conformist Christians - to see steam power as a gift from God. A pamphlet entitled Railways and published by the Religious Tract society in 1840 declared that "God's good providence had designed to furnish this wonderful piece of mechanism".

Reference:
Railways; An account of their origin. (Religious Tract Society, c1840) Bodleian Library, Opie collection of children's literature; 022:253 Aleph System Number 016754990.