That was perhaps the most gratifying compliment we heard on day 1 of the exhibition organised by the FR in Porthmadog today as we took Minffordd to the spiritual homeland for the first time, and facing its most knowledgeable audience yet.
The show has been very well attended, so far, and there's been a terrific relaxed atmosphere.
That's probably just as well given that we are short-staffed on the operating front due to unforeseen circumstances this weekend.
The layout has performed as well as we could have hoped.
The investment in 'frog juicers' seems to have cut back on many of the short circuit incidents which plagued the Cambrian side of the layout during the latter stages of the 3-day show in Glasgow.
The Simplex, Mary Ann, disgraced itself again, as it did in Falkirk, throwing a digital wobbly and refusing to move, while still making all the noises. (Much like the real thing, some might say.)
It had to stay parked in a siding until the end of the day when we were able to remove all the other narrow gauge locos as use the layout as a programming track to reset the chip.
The 'bulked-up' Dukedog was able to do some useful work on the Cambrian Coast Express set this time, which has given me the confidence to consider investing in a suitable headboard for future shows.
Yard shunting has not been entirely hands-free with some stubborn Kadees refusing to release or reconnect on demand at times, requiring some 'hand of God' intervention.
It would appear all the sidings at Porthmadog are full because the long road above the 'coal hole' was used to store empty gunpowder wagons for much for the day.
The 6 hours the show was open went by in a flash.
By this time tomorrow, as I post, it'll be all packed-up again and ready to haul back up the road to Scotland.
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