September 1991 - Martin Marietta Model Railroad Club founded.

Originally, the club adopted standards for modular layout construction, and began building modules which could be mated with modules from the South Suburban Model Railroad Club, performing annual shows at various malls and Children's Hospital. In '94 the company awarded us permanent use of Building M-41E, behind the softball fields which once housed exercise equipment (relocated to EMF).

In October of 1997, the club did some soul searching and decided that the experience with modules was not the most beneficial for us as a club and presented several drawbacks. The club decided to abandon the modular railroad theme and embarked on a route to building a new layout geared to prototypical operations and representing railroading in Colorado. Our circular modular layout was subsequently stripped and finally scrapped.

During the months following the decision to begin a new design, layout plans were developed for a narrow and standard gauge model of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad circa 1920s. The time period enables us a variety of steam consists from passenger service, coal & anthracite, stock, limestone, and general freight. We chose to model where the narrow gauge and standard gauge of the railroad crossed paths, specifically, in Salida Colorado. Features in Salida include a dual gauge yard and rotary ore dumper (Barrel Transfer). The narrow gauge hauled ore (often limestone and coal) by gondola to Salida. Approximately 30% of the new layout would be standard gauge and 70% narrow gauge. The standard gauge line models a portion of the D&RGW First Division mainline from Hanging Bridge in the Royal Gorge through Parkdale (west), to outside of Cleora, the original townsite when surveyed by the AT&SF. Outside Cleora, standard gauge mainline continues, beginning the D&RGW Second Division past the stockyards at Cleora, past the Mechanical Transfer at Barrel to the Salida yards, then suddenly we jump (north) to Tennessee Pass, entering a hidden helix and staging area to represent Pueblo and Grand Junction, terminataing our standard gauge loop. Salida was the D&RGW Headquarters for both the Second and Third Divisions. The Third Division is all narrow gauge, and originates from the dual gauge tracks in Salida, crosses the Arkansas River, and enters Poncha Junction. From Poncha Junction, a branch line splits to Monarch (west) while the 3rd Division mainline continues south to Mears Junction. From Mears, the narrow gauge mainline climbs past small RR towns to Marshall Pass, descending past several more RR towns to Gunnison. From Gunnison, a line extends for the Crested Butte Branch.

24 February 1998 - The Scenic Line Modelers became incorporated

Scenic Line Modelers was selected as our name to reflect the area we chose to model (the Denver & Rio Grande called the line "the Scenic Line of the World") as well as for the "genericness" of the name if our future modeling pursuits expand beyond the D&RG.

In late summer of 1998, we were fortunate to have help from Employee Services and Facilities in completing the renovation of our clubhouse, Building M-41E. The building is approximately 26 x 38 feet square inside, giving us an excellant environment for building and housing a model railroad. We had the walls painted white (greatly enhancing our already excellant overhead lighting), and factory epoxy flooring installed (replacing the old outdoor carpeting which was impossible to keep clean). We have electric heat to keep out the cold, and fans for the hot summer days. We also have a chilled water cooler, coffee pot, and microwave available for long sessions. Currently, we have added 2 air- conditioners and a refrigerator.

9 January 1999 - Groundbreaking

First lumber was cut for new benchwork. The basic framework was complete and put on temporary legs January 30th, and measured approximately 20 x 32 square feet. The benchwork is designed with 3 foot aisles extending around and into the framework. Construction of the standard gauge roadbed was begun in February and completed in April, including the helix from the staging deck to Tennessee Pass. Code 83 flextrack for the staging deck with opposing reverse loops was put in place during May - June. Ties were laid in the Salida Transfer Yard beginning in June, and as of now ~5000 SG and a few hundred narrow gauge ties (Salida Narrow Gauge Yard) have been laid.

The helix track laying was completed in August.

23 September 1999 - First Spike

We spiked down the first rail. We will continue with the Code 70 rail through the gorge to Code 55 dual gauge rail in Salida. All the track laid through scenery will be handlaid. I would say visible track; however, the staging deck which is 100% flextrack is visible.

The narrow gauge roadbed, consisting of two layers of spliced thick plywood, was attached to the benchwork on risers around 2002-2003.

In 2003, the narrow gauge track was laid on cork subroadbed, using Micro Engineering code 70 flextrack and Shinohara No. 6 switches.

In the spring of 2004, we were on the NMRA Rocky Mountain Region Convention Tour, so we installed our backdrops and applied our Grande Gold themed fascia.

Track RE-CODE !!

In the fall, we began the painfully huge project of replacing all the dual gauge code 55 track (which was the only code rail available previously), to Code 70 (& rebuilding all the handlaid dual gauges switches). We had too many engines with the older wheel flanges bouncing and grinding over the spike heads, which was annoying and embarassing! We made this decision earlier, but it was time to go for it and bite the bullet! It was a big decision, but we knew we didn't want to regret having not made a change to code 70 rail before scenery was added.

We finally added our first significant elements of scenery at Cleora and Parkdale, and started painting some of the backdrop scenery at Salida and Parkdale. (Initial painting was done left-handed, while the right arm rested in a sling). Some Shinohara dual gauge switches have been installed along the double mainline in Salida. The snowshed for Marshall Pass, the largest single structure on the layout, has been built.

We have completed most of the scenery between the east portal of Red Hill tunnel to Parkdale. The Salida transfer yard, completely removed and now all completely relaid by hand, including switches. The Gunnison turntable and roundhouse has been under massive construction. Continued piecemealing of rock molds applied to the Royal Gorge canyon. All the terrain around Parlin has been installed and all major structures built. The construction of the Monarch Colorado Fuel & Iron (CF&I) mine nears completion. More areas of the backdrops, including Salida, Crested Butte, and Parlins have been painted.

Extensive work on Salida yard switches and backdrop. Crested Butte tracks laid out and the Gunnison yard laid. Monarch foam installed around the Coloraod Fuel & Iron Mine, scratchbuilt by HalZ, from the prototype mine at Monarch. Clubhouse improvements included a new air-conditoner and front door to the building. More scenicing was completed at Red Hill Tunnel. New Switch Panels were designed for Gunnison and Crested Butte. We changed from Digitraxx Infrared to Radio. Narrow Gauge arrival/departure track was added in Salida, Gunnison switches made operational. The narrow gauge track was relaid on the Scenic Line.

Scenery work with an aspen grove at Monarch. Turntables holes and engine facilities start to mature in Salida. Lots of work with switch motors connections. Layout is still mostly open framework. Salida narrow gauge yard rebuilt with run- around track, new switches. Crested Butte tracks had major re-alignment, and 'cut' under the backdrop to move the Big Mine to the end of the peninsula. Roof repairs to the building were made to stop leaks.

Electrical
Building electrical issues impacts through the early winter. LM had to reattach the conduit to the power pole outside. Many cold days. Meanwhile, on the layout, decision to redesign switch panels in Salida. Lots of rewiring, finding shorts.

Trackage
New dual gauge for Salida to mairror the three track prototype yard. Poncha Junction getting a three track yard to be more protypical as well. Scale track added in the Salida narrow gauge yard. Added sidings to Crested Butte for the Depot and Coke Ovens, replaced Shinohara with Fasttracks switch. Gunnison roundhouse garden track extension,

Scenery
Lots of progress in Mears Junction. Monarch backdrop painted.

Structures
Completion of the scratchbuilt Monarch CF&I tipple. Mock-up of the Salida Coaling tower. Crested Butte Crystal River Engine Shed.

Construction
The Dispatcher area gets masonite lining. New switch panels are installed in Salida. Montrose staging expansion added to back wall off Gunnison. Cleora extension added to make area for more prototypical stockpens.

Scenery
Webs at Gray's Siding and Marshall Pass are laid out and covered with Bragdon geodesic foam. More scenery work at Mears Junction. Blue foam sculpting at Monarch around the CF&I mine.

Trackwork
Trackplan for Cimarron, squeezed onto the Montrose stqaging deck, is sketched out. Under Crested Butte, a spur and siding were added for "Red Cliff". A staging track for the Pitkin C&S branch was built in the Dispatch "office", with a 4% grade climbing out to a portal behind Tank 7, and on to Parlin.

Construction
The bottom of the Crested Butte backdrop was cut out so we could run a track from the wye around to the peninsula. The drop shelf to Montrose was adjusted to level the track from staging to Gunnison. Platform extension added to the Monarch step platform to reach around to the load tracks built.

Trackage
Cutout serious track kinks in the flextrack in several places around Marshall Pass, and inserted shory handlaid sections to add rail gaps.

Scenery
Ground, rock outcroppings and ground cover added at Gray's Siding. A repainting of the backdrop along Howard to match more of the photography. Backdrops at Shawanno, Gray's, and Mear's were extended. Lots of foam base added at Monarch for the hill and tailings.

Trackage
Ties laid and stained for FastTrack switches on NG staging and Cimarron, staging tracks and Cimarron track laid. Two wye switches going into Gunnison replaced with two new switches with a curved frog on one side.

Scenery
Painted backdrop between Monarch and Grays. Creekbeds and hills formed in Mears with scenery added. Mt Ouray backdrop and scenery installed on NG mainline in Dispatcher loop, along with some culverts and trestles, with ground cover. Began initial rock castings in the Royal Gorge.

Structures
Walthers Medusa Cement Co and Fuel and Flame Company built for Portland. A mockup for the Salida car shop was made, unfortunately only able to make 1/3 of the original length fit. Lighted interior was added to the Salida NG Scale House. A few new structures built for Crested Butte. Mockups for the Gunnison depot and freight house were built. Crested Butte depot mockup built.