Since taking up the hobby about a decade ago, the former mechanic has built four model steam trains and three model steam ships.

Lu Jiming rides his steam model train with several passengers in a park, on May 21, 2006. Photo: Zhao Jing of Shanghai Daily

"Everybody here knows of me and I am called 'the guy who drives mini train,"' Lu smiled. "A kid, who was among the first group of passengers eight years ago, has become a middle school student right now."

Lu's mini steam train, consisting of a locomotive and three carriages - three steel bars with handrails - is one-twelfth the size of a real train.

Several years ago one of his trains carried 16 adults with an average weight of 60 kilograms, at one time.

Yesterday afternoon Lu presented his maiden work, a steam train, to local media in a park near his residence and demonstrated how the engine worked with the active participation of his neighbors.

The 52-year-old man spent nearly an hour on the preparatory work, including laying the mini track, adding fuel such as coal and wood to the engine, and using a generator to fan the flames.

"Now, I am ready to set out," Lu announced proudly, wiping sweat off his forehead and putting on his self-made engineer's cap.

He then hopped on board with about 10 passengers, young and old.

Riding on the rail about 30 centimeters in width and 20 meters in length back and force several times, Lu continued to receive another several batches of passengers.

"This is the second time I have taken the mini train and it is fun," said a 60-year-old woman surnamed Zhang, who brought her 21-month-old granddaughter along for a ride.

"She seemed to enjoy it and was not afraid to sit alone on it," Zhang smiled.

Without his family, who offered unconditioned support, Lu said he would have given up his hobby, which has cost him about 30,000 yuan (US$3,704) to date.

By Yang Lifei