Domestic coal in the US

[antioch]

Until the ‘50s, domestic coal was the one of the main methods of heating, especially in the North East and domestic coal distribution was often a task of coal and ice merchants.

This question is a result of asking what essential industries would be served by the railroad in a small rural community in upstate NY in the mid 20th century, one of the answers was a coal and fuel merchant.

Not a problem except the size of the railroad’s distribution vehicle was normally at least a 40t hopper car, moreover most railroad’s required the car to be emptied and for return to service within two working days. Did every small fuel merchant have access to a coal drop?

Any thoughts?

Antioch