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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