Hello all. Historically, what would the procedure have been for cleaning equipment? I've noticed in some images, even our own #9 was kept shiny all around, during the early days on the SRR when covered stations dotted the line.
I've heard that at least in some parts of the world, kerosene/paraffin oil was used, often mixed with oil to keep locomotives clean and sparkly, but is there any documentation about what was used in Maine, on the 2-footers? Would the modern equivalent materials cause active damage to equipment?
I ask because one of my favorite jobs is to wipe down #9, keeping 'er nice and pretty.