Amateur Image Pipeline Processing using Python plus PyRAF

A template pipeline spanning observing planning to publishing is offered as a basis for establishing a long term observing program. The data reduction pipeline encapsulates all policy and procedures, providing an accountable framework for data analysis and a teaching framework for IRAF. This paper introduces the technical details of a complete pipeline processing environment using Python, PyRAF and a few other languages. The pipeline encapsulates all processing decisions within an auditable framework. The framework quickly handles the heavy lifting of image processing. It also serves as an excellent teaching environment for astronomical data management and IRAF reduction decisions.