The 1980s are well represented in this picture. Not only was it taken on 27 February 1989, the train engine was QJ 1983 and the banker QJ 1987. The pair were working a freight from Nancha towards the summit north of town on the Wuyiling branch.
Steam was still the predominant form of traction in north east China during the 1980s, wooden bodied coal wagons were common and freight trains still had cabooses. All would disappear or become rare over the next decade.