The 1899 Locomobile Steam Car Replica, known as the Lykamobile is a full scale live steam automobile manufactured in 24 kits. This kit is available from a company called "Steam Traction World" located in Daventry, United Kingdom. Each kit is to be manufactured and sent once a month for 24 months. However for cost considerations I have chosen to have my kits batched and dispatched in larger crates to the United States (Topsail Beach, NC).

Specifications:
• Length 7ft 2.6in • Height 5ft 3in • Width 4ft 7.1in • Weight 904 lbs.• Water Tank Capacity 12 Gallons • Fuel Tank Capacity 7.3 Gallons

Construction:

• CHASSIS Tubular steel fabrication, combination weld, bolted and silver solder.
• STEERING “Ackerman” design tiller steering.
• DIFFERENTIAL & DRIVE Spur gear differential similar to the original Locomobile, drive shaft and bearings.
• WHEELS & TYRES Single tube pneumatic, treaded.
• BREAKING SYSTEM Disc brake system.
• ENGINE 21/4" diameter, 3" stroke modified “Hackworth” valve gear.
• WATER FEED Twin mechanical pump.
• BURNER Fuelled by diesel.
• BOILER Multi Fire Tube, fully constructed and complete with necessary paperwork and inspected by notified body.
• BODYWORK & SEATS Wooden with steel frame, seating capacity of 2 persons, with turned decorative spindles with leather style upholstery.
• Gears: forward and reverse.
• Assemble with hand-tools only
• Step-by-step instructions
• Technical service and help-line backup
• Designed on ‘Solidworks’ CAD
• Manufactured on modern CNC machines for build accuracy and high quality


Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Poppapope !

Its been a while since I have made an entry into my Blog. This past April (2025) I had an opportunity to meet Poppapope (Jim). I was in the Denver area visiting my sister-in-law and family and took off a couple of hours to see Jim's Lykamobile. What a great machine Jim has built. We steamed her up and Jim took me around a couple blocks in his neighborhood. Everyone we passed smiled or gave us the thumbs up. It was a lot of fun finally meeting Jim face to face - and discussing our Lykamobiles. 

(Me on the left - Jim on the Right)

As you can see it was a beautiful Spring Day in Denver. Jim gave me a few pointers too that I wish to share here. He has probably covered these in his blog, but no harm in reiterating. Below is a product that he uses to stabilize his boiler overwintering. I'm going to start using this too this coming winter. It can be found by clicking the following link: LSB8000


Additionally, Jim and I have had several conversations over the years about the Steam Throttle Valve Assembly weeping steam/condensation between the two halves, I have tried High Temperature RTV (Orange stuff), Steam Gasket material, even Rocol Steamseal (the powder we mix up and apply to the threads). Nothing worked. Jim found a high temperature O-ring that does work (Yeah Jim !!) and he was kind enough to give me a couple (Thanks Jim!). However, for other Lykamobiles out there you can get these from O-rings and More. Below is an image of the product with the part number (#119)

As always, anyone who wants to discuss Lykamobiles, please don't hesitate to contact me.
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