Courtesy of the Cassel mailing list:

The first practical US coal-burning locomotive made its' first trial run in Pennsylvania - 19 February 1831

Unfortunately, it would later kill its inventor

In 1831, the York locomotive made its first trial run. Though it was not the first to be invented, it was in service for several years, and is regarded as the first practical coal-burning locomotive built in America. It was designed with a vertical boiler by Phineas Davis for the B&O Railroad competition for inventors, which it won, and was adopted by the B&O. The name comes from York, Pennsylvania, where it was built and tested. It was the first locomotive constructed with coupled wheels and two pairs of drivers. The wheels were 30 inches diameter, and the engine weight was 3½ tons. On 27 September 1835, while on an excursion for employees, Phineas Davis, was on board the locomotive observing its operation when the train derailed due to defective track, and Davis died in the accident.

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Gowan and Marx -- equalized driving wheelbase further three-point equalized with a four-wheel leading truck. 1839.

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Eastwick's original patent was November 20, 1837, but it was not fully practicable in that form. Harrison's patent is more workable, April 20 1838.

Unfortunately I do not know the time at which the Patent Office granted these.

What if the track defect was a snake. Wouldn't that be a problem even if there was equalizing gear.

There was an interesting documentary about early coal burning steam made in the silent era called OUR HOSPITALITY. Worth a look.

I presume you mean a 'snakehead', lifting of a strap rail far enough that a wheel 'picks' it.

Not an issue for equalization in weight distribution, and less likely that drivers will strip it: it will either be picked at the lead axle, or by one of the coaches following (where its chief danger is penetrating and disrupting the relatively lightweight wood construction -- it doesn't help if the trucks use something like those Winans antifriction axles with thin little 'journals' and no provision for wheel braking.