One of the big attractions of Nancha in the late 1980s was the use of high-deflectored JS on a few of the branch trains. These locos retained the Russian style narrow buffer beams and long front steps that the first 1100 or so were built with in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Many later received extensions to their buffer beams with shorter, less steeply angled steps from buffer beam to running plate. The Nancha JS also appeared to have longer than standard chimneys that protruded well above the cowling, even when viewed from a low angle.
JS 5120 climbed the bank north of Nancha with train 533/532, the 06:35 Jiamusi - Wuying passenger, on 5 April 1988. QJ 283 provided banking assistance at the rear.