<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM COMBINED
BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AS OF MARCH 31, 1998 AND FOR THE
YEAR THEN ENDED, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>    0001064728
<NAME>   P&L COAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>             3-MOS            12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>            MAR-31-1999       MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>               APR-01-1998       APR-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                 JUN-30-1998       MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                           211,562            96,821
<SECURITIES>                           0                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                    406,139           326,540
<ALLOWANCES>                       9,313             9,100
<INVENTORY>                      193,207           197,480
<CURRENT-ASSETS>               2,297,978         2,126,152
<PP&E>                         6,249,114         5,238,939
<DEPRECIATION>                 1,595,487         1,565,397
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 7,643,623         6,355,234
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>          1,925,475         1,590,181
<BONDS>                        2,324,163                 0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  0                 0
<PREFERRED>                           50                 0
<COMMON>                             160                 0
<OTHER-SE>                       466,796         1,687,842
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   7,643,623         6,355,234
<SALES>                          253,747         2,244,462
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 262,667         2,244,462
<CGS>                            238,438         1,975,275
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    238,438         1,975,275
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                       0                 0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                23,154            33,635 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  (6,856)           250,529
<INCOME-TAX>                     (1,569)            90,193
<INCOME-CONTINUING>              (5,287)                 0
<DISCONTINUED>                        0                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                       0                  0
<CHANGES>                             0                  0
<NET-INCOME>                     (5,287)           160,336
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         0                  0
<EPS-DILUTED>                         0                  0