Centipede tender sorting out ROSS switch?

"Shorting out the system going over the switch ..."  Thank you.

Have never experienced a short sending TMCC into conventional. That is new to us.

Guessing the short is one of the tender wheels hitting the center rail as it is going thru the curve and that axle causing the short. Have seen MTH 4-8-4's go thru the 096 leg of a Ross 096/072 switch and the inner flangless drivers hang into the 072 center rail. Think that was an issue with Lionel PRR T1's on here a while back.

I had the layout powered up for both DCS and TMCC; all the DCS engines flipped into conventional when the tender shorted out the switch.

Tried other locomotives and the "normal" tenders don't short out, just the centipede type short out.

Check to make sure the coupler isn't drooping down and touching the rails.

Guessing the DCS locos flipped into conventional because the track power cycled but the TIU did not? Thought these had a rear coil coupler, as Bob asked, if not does the armature droop and short? Still leaning to a wheel/axle because of the rigid frame, but are all the tender wheels flanged?

Couple appears to be okay on hang height.

Looks like, as best as I can see, the last roller on the tender is shorting out something, but I just can't tell. 

Had black tape all over the switch but it didn't help.

Real mystery why just this type of tender, the centipede, shorts and the rest don't.

Is the roller bent (sideways)?

When I got my 3rd Rail E7 one of the rollers was skewed and gave me problems.  Scott Mann sent me another and it took care of the problem.

The 3rd Rail E7 rollers are tapered so the middle of the roller touches the middle rail, are the ones on your engine tapered or are they straight?  If they don't have this patented they ought to

Thank you Bob; I'll check that out today.  Had not thought of that as a possible source of the problem.

Good information. We have not had any pick-up roller issues. Quickest way to tell is just tape over the "other direction" ground rails, if the short stops you can begin with those sections. Also remember that if the pickup touches an insulated section which has wheels on it, there is still a short because the other pick-up is powered.

How about a pictue of the tender bottom?

Thank you for the ideas ... rockstars1989 (what is it that brings to mind ... something about partying .. wasn't that a rock tune about party until it's 1999 ... I guess that dates me.  I thought I was old when Hendricks used to play somewhat unknown at a place south of Seattle on Old Hwy 99 called The Spanish Castle ...) ... anyway, I checked the trackage with the 4-foot level and it's as flat as a pancake for a good 2 feet in each direction from the switch.

I'll get a picture next time I'm down and it's out of it's storage track, Lima.  I think one of the other UP engines has a centipede tender ... one of the turbines in a box maybe ...  I'll dig it up and try it and see what happens at that spot.