I remember going "coaling" with my cousins along a main line railway, The trains used to drop good coal on the sidings and we used to walk along the tracks and collect it all for my Nan's range on her cosy houseboat.moored in a tidal creek.
It was a fineable offence but we never got caught and would wait for the puffers to pass and wave at the driver and fireman and sonme passengers on their way to the seaside.
Happy days.