2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - Frederick Manfred Simon (Spokane, WA) - ""Götterdämmerung (Twilight of The Gods)"

In a bifurcated exposé of my affection for dusk, dawn, and dark of night photography, I’ll be exploring my catalog of photography over the past year focusing on BNSF’s and UP’s operations in and around Spokane as well the twilight of the Eastern Washington Railroad scheduled to cease as operator of the eminent Cheney to Coulee City “CW.” It is the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in the storied annals of the CW which will – in time - see the departure of the famed flared radiators, the black and blued SD45’s, as a new culture and philosophy under the soon-to-be CW operator Washington Eastern hopes to breath new life into the 108-mile grainer.

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - Reed Skyllingstad (Eugene, OR) - "Desert Railroading"

Desert Railroading is a presentation of one and a half years of railroad photography in the southwestern United States. While Reed was at his first FAA tower in North Las Vegas, Nevada he traveled and photographed Cima Hill, the BNSF Transcon, and the UP Sunset Route in Arizona. Join us as we travel around the Mojave desert and beyond.

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - Robert W. Scott (Rochester, WA) - "To The Land of the Alco's"

Hidden in plain sight, the states of Pennsylvania and New York boast several railroads that still stable classic diesels from Alco. These workhorses are kept in good shape by dedicated group of mechanics under the direction of railroads that know the value of the Alco workhorses. This presentation is from two different trips in the fall of 2015 and 2016 to four different Alco railroads. Running along former lines of the Pennsy, Erie and DL&W, the tracks wind through the river valleys and over the mountains of the Alleghenies, the Poconos and the Appalachians. Along for the ride on our trips were a group of west coast photographers and during our treks we encountered many other characters. Tune in for a ride to the Alco's!

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - Charles Lange (Eugene, OR) - "California Dreamin' - SP Style"

This show is about the Southern Pacific on SP's Coast Route around the Santa Barbara area. The sections in it deal with the power that SP used on the Coastline trains in the 1970s. You never knew what was going to show up on the trains as it just depended on what was available from LA and from the north. There will be a section on the activity at the Santa Barbara station as well as the end of SP's Coast Daylight and the beginning of Amtrak's Coast Starlight. At the end of the program will be a short section on the ever present caboose on the end of the 1970s SP trains.

Blair Kooistra Framed Print Raffle

This year we will again be having a raffle at the slideshow. These framed photos from Blair Kooistra feature the Milwaukee Road. The photos will be in frames and are ready to hang on your wall. Tickets for the drawing will be $1 each or 12 tickets for $10 available at the door on Saturday. Proceeds from the tickets goes towards the show and Fox Theater restorations.

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - Steve Carter (Gig Harbor, WA) - "A Northwest Shortlines Sampler"

Take a tour of some of the Northwest’s Shortline Railroads. From the rainy forests of the Oregon Coast, to hot and dry eastern Washington and out to the forests of the Idaho Panhandle. Seen from the air and ground, stills and moving pictures!

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - Jared Pohll (Toledo, WA) - "The Beginning Years"

Just graduating out of high school, Jared took back a hobby he had since forgotten during most of his middle and high school years. Moving to Eugene, Oregon shortly after, the interest grew back during a short hike in the Oregon Cascades and seeing a train creep down the steep cliffs of Union Pacific's Cascade Line. His first presentation showing scenes of the continuous battle with trains along the 1.8% 42 mile long grade out of Oakridge, Oregon. Along with scenes continuing south to Klamath Falls and north to Junction City, Oregon.

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter Lance Lassen - (Vancouver, WA) - "Black and White - A Teens trek around the US in the mid-70s"

As a teenager in the mid-70s, Lance set out with a new drivers license, a bulk film loader and 2 Amtrak USA Railpasses. Awaiting home after his adventures is a dark room behind his house. What came out of this trip is pure black and white views of an amazing and gritty time of railroading.

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter Randy Nelson - (Portland, OR) - "Nomo's Northwest 2018"

Randy comes back with another look at an annual work from his lens. The show is a complilation of photos over the last year. It features 3 days of chasing the SP 4449 in the Columbia River Gorge along with photos of his local railroad, the Portland and Western.

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - Drew Mitchem (Centralia, WA) - "2013 A Look Back"

Head back a half decade with Drew as he tours around the country catching some fantastic rail action.While in New Mexico, Drew had the BNSF transcon and its nearly 100 trains a day at his doorstep and this show looks at some of the fantastic regions along that route among others.

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - Scott O'Dell (Shelton, WA) - "Amtrak Along Puget Sound"

This show is about Amtrak along Puget Sound between Reservation and Nisqually but mainly concentrating on the section between Titlow and Solo Point. Scott has been going to that area to take pictures for about 33 years now and it is always a fun place to take pictures. With Amtrak soon to be on the Lakewood line the waterfront will be a just a bit less interesting. It has been fun to watch Amtrak go from 1 F40PH and 2 Superliners. With only 3 roundtrips counting the Coast Starlight to a Siemens Charger and a Talgo set and 6 roundtrips. It is a shame that the best scenery on the trip between Seattle and Portland will be lost to save 5 minutes in transit time.

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - Steven J. Brown (Washougal, WA) - "1977"

It was 1977. Railroads in the US were going bankrupt, the infrastructure was decrepit. First generation diesels were starting to disappear at a rapid rate. It didn’t look like railroads had a future. Fourteen year old Steven didn’t have a drivers license yet but was determined to document their last days. With only loose change in his pocket, travel with him from his home on the north side on transit to the far south side of Chicago to photograph the last E’s and F’s in Rock Island commuter service before the evil F40 shows up. Get up before dawn to trek across town to see the menagerie of Conrail power before it all turns blue. Of course, there was a lot of other neat stuff to see along the way!

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - David Lange (Eugene, OR) - "Men At Work"

Several years ago David presented his first show at Autumn Leaf titled The Human Element. This show continues on with that theme showcasing just a portion of his archives of men at work on the railroad. These images show a glimpse of the many hours he spent up close photographing several Union Pacific maintenance gangs upgrading the railroads infrastructure in Oregon. This show also includes unique perspectives that are rarely captured by non employees of the railroad.

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - Joel Hawthorn (Shelton, WA) - "And Another Thing"

"And Another Thing" is a program in which the viewer is taken along to glimpse three different stories. Images are drawn from August, 2017 through August, 2018. Part One: The Desert Southwest. February 2018 Part Two: Thompson River, British Columbia. August 2017 Part Three: Peninsular Railway, Shelton WA, 2018

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - Dan R. Scheidell (Eugene, OR) - "Chasing the Coos Bay Rail Link"

The Coos Bay Rail Link runs on the old Southern Pacific Coos Bay branch that starts in Eugene Oregon and ends in Coquille Oregon. Most of operations are ran during the dark of night along the majority of the line. Dan did however have the chance at some very exclusive footage of what is usually seen at night, which is part of what you will witness. This is a look at operations on the CBR from an entirely aerial perspective in a short video feature.

2018 Autumn Leaf Presenter - Frank Keller (Anchorage, AK) - "North to Alaska - Trains to the Last Frontier"

This show will chronicle 10 years living in Anchorage, Alaska and Frank's attempts to photograph the last full service railroad in North America. Covering the Alaska Railroad in its entirety from Seward north to Fairbanks in all the seasons of Alaska, which basically amounts to two, Summer & Winter, In reality there are 4 season but Spring and Fall are so short they are barely a blip on the calendar. Come join Frank as we explore the Alaska Railroad and the beauty which they traverse on an almost daily basis.

List of 2018 Presenters Announced!!

Just about a month from showtime!! We are looking forward to some fantastic shows from out presenters this year: Steve Carter David Lange Charles R. Lange Steven J. Brown Dan R. Scheidell Frederick Manfred Simon Joel Hawthorn Jared Pohll - 2018 Featured Photographer Dale Skyllingstad Frank Keller Lance Lassen Michael Forster Randy Nelson Reed Skyllingstad Look for presentation information and photos in the coming weeks! A reminder that our show this year will be held at the King Street Cove which is adjacent to Centralia College. Hope to see you all there!!!

16th Annual Autumn Leaf Slideshow - Saturday, Oct 27th! 4pm-10pm

16th Annual Autumn Leaf Railroad Slideshow Saturday, October 27, 2018, 4pm to 10pm King Street Cove at the historic temple 200 S. King St. in Centralia At the corner of King Street and Centralia College Blvd We are excited to be in the King St. Cove this year as the Fox Theater is still under renovation. The 1930 built structure has been newly remodeled to seat 160 people with professional sound and video systems built in. There is a vendor area available in the downstairs/main entrance portion of the venue . Vendor tables may be reserved for $25 per 6ft table. If interested, please contact us. We will have a print raffle as well as the Best of 3. The Fox Theater staff will be on hand to assist our event. Beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase on site. Those arriving in Centralia early, the Milwaukee Road Historical Society will be hosting an event with programs on Saturday at the Centralia Depot from 10am til 3pm. To RSVP as an attendee or presenter, please email me at robertwscottphotography@gmail.com