Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations And Comprehensive Income (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
REVENUES:
Coal sales	$ 67,414,000	$ 69,603,000
Freight and handling revenues	622,000	1,520,000
Other revenues	6,708,000	10,759,000
Total revenues	74,744,000	81,882,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of operations (exclusive of depreciation, depletion and amortization shown separately below)	54,835,000	57,087,000
Freight and handling costs	235,000	1,264,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	10,212,000	11,092,000
Selling, general and administrative (exclusive of depreciation, depletion and amortization shown separately above)	5,488,000	4,909,000
(Gain)/loss on sale of assets-net	925,000	(1,158,000)
Total costs and expenses	71,695,000	73,194,000
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	3,049,000	8,688,000
INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense	(1,854,000)	(1,822,000)
Interest income and other		43,000
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated affiliate	(1,372,000)	2,065,000
Total interest and other income (expense)	(3,226,000)	286,000
INCOME/(LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(177,000)	8,974,000
INCOME TAXES
NET INCOME/(LOSS)	(177,000)	8,974,000
Other comprehensive income:
Amortization of actuarial gain under ASC Topic 715	(36,000)	(74,000)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)	(213,000)	8,900,000
General partner's interest in net income/(loss)	(4,000)	179,000
Net income per limited partner unit, diluted:
Distributions paid per limited partner unit	$ 0.445	$ 0.480
Common Units [Member]
Other comprehensive income:
Unitholders' interest in net income (loss)	(101,000)	4,860,000
Net income per limited partner unit, basic:
Net income per limited partner unit, basic	$ (0.01)	$ 0.32
Net income per limited partner unit, diluted:
Net income per limited partner unit, diluted	$ (0.01)	$ 0.32
Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding, basic:
Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding, basic	15,354	15,313
Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding, diluted:
Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding, diluted	15,354	15,327
Subordinated Units [Member]
Other comprehensive income:
Unitholders' interest in net income (loss)	$ (72,000)	$ 3,935,000
Net income per limited partner unit, basic:
Net income per limited partner unit, basic	$ (0.01)	$ 0.32
Net income per limited partner unit, diluted:
Net income per limited partner unit, diluted	$ (0.01)	$ 0.32
Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding, basic:
Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding, basic	12,397	12,397
Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding, diluted:
Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding, diluted	12,397	12,397