EXHIBIT 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                  KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that B. R. Brown, a Director
of Peabody Energy Corporation and whose signature appears below, hereby
constitutes and appoints Irl F. Engelhardt, Richard A. Navarre and Jeffery L.
Klinger, or any one of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to
the Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and
registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of
1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and does
hereby grant unto said attorneys in-fact and agents, and each of them, full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                                             By:      /s/ B. R. BROWN
                                                --------------------------------
                                                          B. R. Brown
Date:  March 3, 2004                                        Director