A while ago I researched the issue and I posted my findings here:
http://forums.animesuki.com/showthre...ui#post2939236
Basically, it's true that the Qilian station didn't exist in 1986 and that the current one was opened only recently, but that's because it was shut down, not because it never existed before.
At the time Kinzo was living in his hometown, the Qilian station existed.