Performing research on a conversion of a M-380 draft gear on a GP9 to a NC390. The EMD 190 Catalog I have says to reference EMD WS 17494 for details of "minor" modifications that require 2 channels to be installed.

Does anyone have access to this document or details on the channel installation?

Interesting. I was under the impression the conversion requires the replacement of the entire draft gear and frame modifications - an expensive endeavor. I can't think of how you could modify the original draft gear to be self-centering and resist lateral motion.

As far as I know, you replace the M380 with a new NC390 but need to modify the pocket in the frame slightly to accept the NC390 draft gear. The original M380 is discarded or otherwise not used.

Preston Cook, a retired EMD service rep, will see this before too long and I bet he'll know.

All of my technical documents were donated to Barriger Library last spring. There was not help available to scan everything before it was transferred, so some items will have to be rediscovered by historians in another era. Here is. in my opinion. the best online discussion on this issue:

https://lmoarail.com/wp-content/uploads ... -FINAL.pdf

PC

Found the information I was looking for in EMD Pointers 3L-80. It is basically a 3/8 thick channel 2-1/8" high by 10" long welded into the side of the pocket to accommodate the narrower NC390 draft gear.

For what its worth, our ex-SP GP9 was already fitted with NC390 alignment control draft gear and coupler, so anyone with one of these locos may be in luck. These were likely added during the GRIP rebuild as the casting date on the coupler is 1974. This will allow movement on any Class I.