Rosebud Mining Company's history began in 1979 when the company was founded by J. Clifford Forrest in East Brady, Pennsylvania and operated a railroad siding, loading coal on railcars.  Three years later in 1982, the Queenstown Coal Cleaning Plant facility was acquired.  After purchasing the cleaning plant, Rosebud began mining coal out of its first deep mine, Rosebud #1, during January 1983.   Rosebud #3 began operations in May of 1987 to replace the production of Rosebud #1.  The company began operating multiple mines when Roaring Run Mine was developed in November 1992.  

During the mid 1990's, Rosebud developed reserves located in other areas of Armstrong, Cambria, and Indiana counties which it had leased or acquired throughout the years.  Mines were developed as the market demand for coal allowed, with Rosebud opening new mines in the following order: Rosebud #2 (May 1996), Tracy Lynne (March 1997), Dutch Run (January 1998), Josephine #3 (July 1998), Armstrong Run (May 1999), Twin Rocks (August 2000), Clementine Mine and McVille Preparation Plant (January 2001), Stitt Mine (September 2001), Logansport (January 2002), and Little Toby (April 2003).  Beaver Valley Mine, Beaver County, PA, was purchased in August 2003.  Keystone East Mine began producing coal in August 2004.  During June 2005, Rosebud Mining Company purchased the Tusky Mine in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and continued operations at the mine. Penfield Mine Began operation in May of 2006, along with the beginning of the rehabilitation of Mine #78, which is now operational. Mine #78 Preparation Plant was completed and started operating in February of 2008. In March of the same year, Toms Run (Burrell) Mine was purchased and reopened.

Now, the company operates twelve underground mines.  All of Rosebud's mines are located in Pennsylvania and Ohio, mining coal from the Upper Freeport, Lower Freeport, Upper Kittanning, Middle Kittanning, and Lower Kittanning seams.  The different seams provide flexibility to our Sales & Logistics team to blend coals into the specific qualities that our customers desire.  Various locations mitigate the risk of geologic problems effecting performance.

Rosebud Mining Company also operates McVille Preparation Plant, a mine-mouth coal cleaning plant which is fed a continuous supply of raw coal produced from the Clementine #1 deep mine.  During late 2000 - early 2001, the cleaning plant at Queenstown was dismantled, transported, and reconstructed as the McVille Preparation Plant.  The coal is removed from the mine and delivered to the plant by conveyor belt.  At the cleaning plant, coal is cleaned using modern coal preparation technology.  Cleaning involves removing impurities in the coal such as rock, shale, and sulfur to produce a higher quality coal (increases BTUs and decreases sulfur and ash content).  After the coal is washed, it can then be loaded onto trucks or railcar on the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad by the automated railroad load out.

During October of 2003, Rosebud purchased Penfield Collieries, LLC, which owned the Lady Jane Preparation Plant in Clearfield County.  Lady Jane now washes metallurgical coal and ships via the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad.  It was upgraded in 2005 to include a flood load out system and an expanded clean coal inventory site.

Additionally, the Logansport Preparation Plant was constructed during the fall of 2004, becoming our second mine mouth cleaning plant.  The plant uses a heavy media vessel for coarser material and an air jig for finer coal cleaning.  The plant currently only ships by truck, but both rail and barge options are being evaluated.

Our third mine mouth cleaning plant, Mine #78 Preparation Plant, began operating in February of 2008. The plant is able to clean 350-550 tons per hour, and has rail access to Norfolk Southern.

The construction of the Tusky Preparation Plant, which will also be a mine mouth cleaning plant, is under way. The plant will be able to clean 300 tons per hour, and will have rail access to Ohio Central.

The present owner and President of Rosebud Mining Company, J. Clifford Forrest, feels that the company's employees are Rosebud's greatest resource.  All employees, whether working underground, maintenance, plant, or supervisory, each has contributed to the company's successful growth since 1979.  In mid 2008, total company-wide employment was approximately 750.