COVE

During the Victorian Era, railway service was an important transportation factor for both society and the economy. But not just in England, America also used trains for the same purpose. The late 18th century and early 19th century were considered an era of "technical progress" as most transportation would require the use of railways. Therefore, lubricants were used as a common method for train maintenance. Among the lubricants used for railway maintenance, sperm oil was one of the most popular choices as it prevented rust on metals, provided stability for engines, and did not have any odor while used. The production of sperm oil consisted of whaling (which was later banned in 1987) for the spermaceti and tissue in the head of sperm whales. However, kerosene and petroleum-based lubricants began to replace sperm oil in the late 19th century as they cost less. In Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost, a reference to the lubricant can be seen as Mr. Otis humiliates Sir Simon by giving him the "Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator" to oil the chains he uses for haunting.