Matt Adams - "Bulldogs Downunder" - (from Beaverton, OR)

In 1951, Australia's Railways began to turn to diesels for the road power. The first mainline diesel, an English Electric built by the South Australian Railways' shops entered traffic September 10, 1951. 10 days later, the first mainline EMD, but by licensee Clyde Engineering, entered traffic. Known by SAR as the GM class, the first 11 (GM1-11) were built in an A1A-A1A configuration to meet Australia's axle loading limits and were truly just elongated F units. As a result of the initial GM Class experience, coupled with interest from the Victorian Railways for a C-C version with double ends and the theory the lighter axle loading would be popular globally, EMD went to work. In 1951, VR placed their order for the ML-2 and with what EMD had learned "down under," released the SD7 to the US market, just 5 months before the first ML-2, VR's B Class leader B60, hit the rails in July 1952. Further orders of the GM class were also C-C units. The last new unit built with the "bulldog" nose in the world was CL17, now CLP10, which entered service in June 1972. Remarkably, some of these EMD pioneers can still be found in active service to this day for Southern Shorthaul Railroad, while thanks partly to a lower global demand for iron ore, has allowed GWA to store many of their older examples. Here, we look back and their life as they knew it in 2014, hauling infrastructure and wheat trains in New South Wales and South Australia.

Matt Adams - "Goodbye, Old Friend..." - (from Beaverton, OR)

The Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad... Many from the Northwest are familiar with the name. Fewer are familiar with the line. When I moved to Oregon in 2005 and it was the first thing I wanted to see. It was always one of those things in the backyard, you'd check it out occasionally, but the lure of big mainline railroading and exploring new parts of the states of Washington and Oregon, and further east to Idaho and Montana, kept me away. Like may things in your backyard, you just assume it'll always be there, and never pay it the attention it truly deserves...until it disappears forever. Such was the case in early December 2007, when the "Great Coastal Gale" moved through the Northwest. The amount of rain it brought wreaked havoc all over the Northwest, including flooding the city of Chehalis and BNSF's Seattle Subdivision for several days, causing the massive landslide just west of Clatskanie, OR that blocked the Portland & Western's Astoria District, and, by far the most damaging, were the landslides, washouts and tunnel collapses over the POTB's crossing of Oregon's Cost Range, largely confined to the section between MP 789 and MP 816, totaling 27 miles. Sadly for the fans of the line, with the $57.2 Million dollar price tag to repair the line, coupled with Hampton Lumber's inability (unwillingness?) to commit to the railroad, the Port of Tillamook Bay elected not to repair the line, instead using their FEMA money to build a golf resort. This decision effectively closed the 96-year book on trains over the must rugged and scenic operation in the Northwest. Since 2008, all but three locomotives, one GP9 and 2 SD9s have met the scrappers torch, while the line over the mountain continues to decay. I've sorted through my best and most memorable shots of the short 2-year period I was able to shoot it for this short presentation. Goodbye, old friend...

Dan Schwanz - "The Ashbrook and Thompson River Subs of Canada" - (from Hood River, OR)

Dan takes us on a journey along the CN Ashcroft Sub and the CP Thompson River sub from a few days back in August of 2011. We are happy to have to have Dan back to show some of his great photography!

Mike Repp - "Cumbres & Toltec - Narrow Gauge Treasure" - (from Vancouver, WA)

Phillip A. Brahms - "More Than Just A Railroad" - (from Cordelia, Ca.)

Northern California’s McCloud Railway has a very vibrant history. However, rather than dwell on various dates and statistics, this photographic presentation is dedicated to the employees of the McCloud for making this shortline; “More Than Just A Railroad.” The most important attribute in railroading is the human element, for without it, a railroad does not exist. Often this is overlooked by flashy paint schemes, impressive motive power rosters, or even the unique scenery which a line traverses. Railroaders regard each other as family, and the employees of the McCloud have a distinct character which has been shared with many. Philip A. Brahms became well acquainted with the McCloud Railway throughout his childhood. He has been enslaved by the BNSF since 2001, and currently works as an Engineer out of Richmond, California.

Raffle Tickets to be sold at show for signed prints

At this years show we will be selling raffle tickets for three 11"x17" signed prints by Blair Kooistra. You will be able to put tickets in on one, two or all three of these fantastic prints! Proceeds from the raffle will go towards this years show and the ongoing preservation efforts at the Fox Theater.

Robert W. Scott - "Last of the Loggers" - (from Rochester, Wa)

Keeping with this years theme of looking at the operations of our now lost logging railroads of Washington State, this show looks at both the Weyerhauser Woods Railroad and the Simpson Timber Railroad. Both of these railroads welcomed us in and showed us what it was like to be a part of a century-plus old tradition - moving logs by rail.

Gary Durr - "Weyerhauser - The Last Three Years...." - (from Vancouver, Wa.)

In late 2007, Weyerhaeuser announced that it would be closing their Green Mountain mill near Toutle, Washington, which meant the end of their Woods train from Green Mountain to Longview. I spent the next year documenting the woods train and it's crews along the line from Green mountain to Longview. Soon after after the demise of the woods train, Weyerhaeuser announced that it's rail operations were up for sale... In 2010 Patriot railroad purchased the Longview Operations, ending Weyerhaeusers operations of the old Woods railroad. This show documents the last three years of Weyerhaeuser's operation of the Woods railroad. From the months leading up to the closing of the Green mountain mill, and final run of the woods train in May of 2008, to the very last Weyerhaeuser operated train before the take over of rail ops by Patriot Rail in December of 2010. I was granted full access to the railroad by Weyerhaeuser to document These final years. Many cab rides in to the many inacessible locations, helped in documenting many obscure locations along the railroad. From the deep confines of the wild and scenic Ostrander canyon, to the open clear cuts along the right of way on the North side of Memlock Pass between Headquarters and Green Mountain. This was a truly wonderful and back woods rail operation. Sadly this line is now abandoned, with most of the rail line torn out. Only a 18 mile section of this once vast line remains in tact, albeit rusting un-used and embargoed.

Stephen Dorsett - "The Feather in the River and the Gateway to the Northwest" - (from Salt Lake City, Ut.)

The quite sounds of water, birds chirping, the wind blowing through a picturesque wooded canyon. Looking across the hill, you see a light that eliminated green, in the distance you hear the sound of 645 and 710 and FDL prime movers. The Feather River route. Predecessor route of the WP, currently is owned and operated by the Union Pacific railroad. In 1995 an innovation that changed the rail landscape forever. The merger of the Union Pacific railroad with the Southern Pacific. Prior to this merger there was only one freight each way per day STBR and the BRST. The BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad) Wanted equal access from California to the Pacific Northwest. The Surface transportation Board agreed and the BNSF was awarded track age rights from Stockton California via the WP to Denver Colorado. The BNSF agreed to purchase the Highline(inside gateway) This railroad adventure will take you from 1997 to current with the Union Pacific railroad and the BNSF from Oroville California through the feather river and from Keddie to Little Valley. There is nothing like the sound of hard working 645,710 EMD prime movers working up the hill.

Dan Bolyard - "US Construction Railroad to Grand Coulee Dam" - (from Coulee City, Wa)

Dan is back to give us the next chapter on the history of the railroads of the Columbia Basin - this one is on the US Government line built for the construction project of the Grand Coulee Dam. The show will look at construction, the flow of building supplies to the removal of the rail and what is left of it today.

Steven Welch - "Montana's Mainline" - (from Forsyth, Mt.)

Steven makes the trip back to Autumn Leaf for the first time in a few years and brings us a show on the great Montana Rail Link. This show is an adventure from Billings to Sandpoint, following the present day operations of Montana's regional railroad: The Montana Rail Link.

Lee Bishop - "Upper Corners" - (from Rochester, Wa.)

Lee is back for another year presenting at Autumn Leaf with a show on his travels around the "Upper Corners" of the US including shots in the Northwest, Northeast, Canada and Alaska.

Joel Hawthorn - "Attachment Unavailable" (from Shelton, Wa.)

This show is not a documentary or a narrative. He has selected some favorite frames from his portfolio, and put them into a semi-organized hodge-podge with a coordinated soundtrack for a fun 15 minute romp around the western states. He has been tweaking this show together over the last year since gaining inspiration to begin working on the next presentation after attending Autumn Leaf, 2014.

Show Us Your Best 3 Shots of The Year

Autumn Leaf Slide Show 2015

A favorite of attendees over the years has been the best-shot slide show. It is a great opportunity to share your best work! This year we are requesting attendees submit their favorite 3 shots taken since ALSS this past year prior to 27 October 2014. We are opening it up to short video clips generally less than 30 seconds. Interesting, unique, technically outstanding you would like to share. Also we are requesting a profile picture like on Facebook to overlay on your shots so folks can identify you at the show if they have questions or comments or just want to meet you to tell you what an awesome Railfan you are. How to participate? Email Paul Petersen who is putting the show together. Gmail can handle up to 25MB of data. peterzpicts@gmail.com Please submit using the following format. Your Name Insert your Profile Picture (Desired but not Required) Picture # 1 Insert or attach jpg, full resolution is requested for formatting and best quality. Watermarks are not desired and will be rejected if too large. Name of the Shot. Location. Train Symbol if known or other interesting info. Picture #2 Same type of info Picture #3 Same type of info If you have a really cool video clip cut it down to an interesting size of 30 seconds or less. HD resolution is desired or really good SD. Send what file format came out of your camera or a standard like MP4 or mov. Send me a link in your email to a file site you like or use this drop box I have made public.