Updated: 27 Jan 2004
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The Kitson-Still Locomotive was an attempt to combine the fuel economy of the diesel engine with the high starting torque of the steam locomotive. The actual engine was a horizontally opposed 8-cylinder design; the 4 inner cylinders were steam, with Hackworth valvegear, while the 4 outside cylinders were Diesel. The crankshaft was geared to a jackshaft at a ratio of 1.88:1, and this drove the connecting rods. The Diesel exhaust was intended to help heat the steam boiler. Note small-diameter boiler set very high.
Tests began in April 1928. There were many problems, including poor boiler performance. The loco did its last test runs in 1933.
Above: A contemporary drawing with the Kitson-Still as built in the foreground.
Behind it is a most interesting machine with four vertical cylinders and rocking-lever drive. This may have been an alternative concept- at any rate it certainly never saw the light of day.


