The Baoshen Railway was built to transport coal around 200km from new mines around Shenmu in northern Shaanxi to Baotou, a major industrial city on the Yellow River with good rail connections to the east and west. Although the line was built and operated to main-line standards, it was owned by the mining company and worked by QJs until 2001. Loaded trains faced a stiff climb from Shashagetai to Dongsheng, requiring the use of banking and pilot locomotives on heavy trains.
QJ 6711 and QJ 2977 led a loaded coal train across one of several viaducts around Aobaogou on the climb to Dongsheng on 19 January 2000. QJ 6249 provided banking assistance.