[Brad from Tennessee]

Depression era people have told me about wandering the tracks and picking up loose coal to help heat their homes.

[count-your-change]

My folks didn’t wait for the coal to fall off the cars it seems. Whoever was fast and agile would cuss the trainmen and get chunks of coal tossed at them for their trouble.

Given the family history I think a few of the coal chunks found their mark and did some damage.