Maybe we could try and develop a nuclear powered steam engine
Great idea Norm but they already have, it's called a nuclear power plant. The reactor simply replaces the fossil fuel furnace and heats water to steam to turn the turbine to generate the electricity.
Obviously there are nuclear powered watercraft, the Americans (and USSR) toyed with the idea of nuclear powered planes too but even they thought it was just too dangerous! I think missile technology also made them somewhat redundant.
Not quite pistons and rods, of course.
