-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ju5qnrB9STZv0ujxRwHPYAUWHCSVG6zflEHF1HXDgw7OyePIZtMBDIiPHQimNabH
 KASsfI2oVY3eekmreuEZbA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000106455-06-000017.txt : 20060301
<SEC-HEADER>0000106455-06-000017.hdr.sgml : 20060301
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060301172040
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000106455-06-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060224
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060301
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060301

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Klingaman Richard M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001354439

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11155
		FILM NUMBER:		06656780

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		719-448-5816

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2 NORTH CASCADE AVENUE
		STREET 2:		14TH FLOOR
		CITY:			COLORADO SPRINGS
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80903

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WESTMORELAND COAL CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000106455
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BITUMINOUS COAL & LIGNITE SURFACE MINING [1221]
		IRS NUMBER:				231128670
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2 NORTH CASCADE AVENUE 14TH FLOOR
		CITY:			COLORADO SPRINGS
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80903
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7194422600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2 N CASCADE AVE
		STREET 2:		# 14THFL
		CITY:			COLORADO SPRINGS
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80903-1614
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-24</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000106455</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WESTMORELAND COAL CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>wlb</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001354439</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Klingaman Richard M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2 NORTH CASCADE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>14TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COLORADO SPRINGS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80903</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">$2.50 par value per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard M. Klingaman, Director, Westmoreland Coal Company</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----