8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 28, 1994



Westmoreland Coal Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware                     0-752                  23-1128670
(State or other         (Commission File         (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of              Number)             Identification 
No.)
incorporation)


700 The Bellevue, 200 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania                                  19102
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (215) 545-2500 


Item 5.    Other Events.

   On July 28, 1994, Westmoreland Coal Company announced that it 
has reached a definitive agreement in principle to sell the assets 
of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kentucky Criterion Coal Company, 
to CONSOL of Kentucky Inc., a member of the CONSOL coal group, 
subject to an inventory adjustment at closing, and subject to 
third-party consents.

   A press release describing the transaction is attached as an 
exhibit and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.    Exhibits.

   Press release dated July 28, 1994.






EXHIBIT INDEX


                                                        Sequentially
Exhibit    Description of Exhibit                         Numbered
Number                                                      Page
  1        Press release dated July 28, 1994.                 4







        




SIGNATURE





	Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on 
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


		WESTMORELAND COAL COMPANY




Date:  August 4, 1994		By:						
			Francis J. Boyle
			Senior Vice President,
			Chief Financial Officer and 
Treasurer

EX-99

        WESTMORELAND REACHES DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT TO SELL
         THE ASSETS OF KENTUCKY CRITERION COAL COMPANY



Philadelphia, PA (July 28, 1994) Westmoreland Coal Company (NYSE: 
WCX) today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement 
to sell the assets of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kentucky 
Criterion Coal Company, to CONSOL of Kentucky Inc., a member of 
the CONSOL coal group, for $85 million subject to an inventory 
adjustment at closing.  The sale is subject to third-party 
consents.

A fourth-quarter closing is anticipated, and Westmoreland 
believes that its creditors will extend repayment of the 
Company's outstanding obligations of approximately $46 million 
until the closing.

The Kentucky Criterion property, which produced 1.7 million tons 
of coal in 1993, is located in parts of Letcher, Knott and Pike 
counties with headquarters in Deane, Kentucky.  It was acquired 
in 1987 from Bethlehem Steel Corporation and certain of its 
subsidiaries and is served by the CSX railroad system.

Christopher K. Seglem, Westmoreland's President and Chief 
Executive Officer said "We are very pleased with the value 
Westmoreland will receive from this sale.  These proceeds will 
assure that Westmoreland Coal Company can discharge its debt 
obligations and will significantly enhance the Company's ability 
to implement a repositioning and growth strategy to achieve 
meaningful and sustainable long-term profitability."

Westmoreland continues to mine coal in Virginia, West Virginia, 
and Montana where Westmoreland Resources Inc. recently announced 
a new long-term supply agreement with Otter Tail Power for 1.7 
million tons of coal per year.  Westmoreland Coal's other 
contract customers include Duke Power, Southern Companies, 
Virginia Power, American Electric Power, Northern State Power, 
and Western Fuels.