There are decibels and there are decibels. I was in line right next to the locomotive for the Saturday opening. The steam whistle was a joy to hear. The "official" opening horn was loud but not annoying (other than that it wasn't a steam whistle). The compound horn mounted on the NH truck was annoying per se--just as intended and as designed. My solution was to walk inside the BLC. Later, between buildings, I had a conversation with one of the Edaville volunteers. Our talk was interrupted several times by the whistle. Our solution: we shut up; smiled, and waiting for the next silence (only about five seconds later).
I believe the last time I heard a steam whistle was on the Cog. I was very happy the Edaville people came with their locomotive and I look forward to visiting them this summer. I suppose those who limit their model railroading to digital control and microchips probably would be annoyed by the smell of coal smoke, lubricating oil, and ties oozing creosote on a hot day. And I know several children who love toy trains but are overwhelmed by their real-life counterparts.
As far as I could tell, each building has multiple doors, and the noise was easily avoidable--unless you instisted on standing there with your cellphone app trying to measure the damage you were doing to your own hearing by standing there.
