Fish oil and aluminum paint

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

In reading Virginian Railway In Color by McClure and Plant, I found  several 
references to the use of fish oil and aluminum paint to spiff up  locomotives. 
 Was this a routine cleaning and polishing?   Was fish oil really FISH OIL?  
Was the aluminum paint used for  decorative reasons or did it provide better 
protection?  Did the  different shops have their own way of cleaning up 
locomotives to make  them distinctive?  Would some of the knowledgeable Virginian 
brethren on  the list please expand on this.  I have a hard enough time washing 
and  waxing a small pickup, so I can't imagine polishing an AG.  
 
Thanks, 
Chuck Stewart
Bahama 
 
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