In April 1903, the first section of the Moseltalbahn from Trier to Leiwen was officially opened, and by August 1905, with the completion of the last segment from Bernkastel to Bullay, the entire route was finished. From then on, the lovingly nicknamed "Saufbähnchen" narrow-gauge railway connected the idyllic towns located between the river and vineyards along the Middle Moselle over a distance of 102 kilometers in about four hours of travel time. Between 1961 and 1968, much to the dismay of many locals, the unprofitable passenger and freight services on the line were gradually discontinued. After the dismantling of the tracks and the demolition of the bridges and most stations, only a few visible remnants of the railway remain today. The renowned historian and author of successful Moselle picture books, Karl-Josef Gilles, recalls the eventful history of the Moseltalbahn in this book.