Trains - Rhineland-Palatinate: Books - Rail Lines

Die Eisenbahn im Rheinland - Die schönsten Strecken, Loks und Züge

The successful author and railway expert Christoph Riedel presents an exciting journey through four decades of railway history in the Rhineland. Around 150 mostly unpublished colour photographs document the changes in trains and rail vehicles since the 1980s.
This excellently researched illustrated book is a must for anyone interested in railways and technology. A book to discover and rediscover.

Information

Zeitreise durch die Pfalz - Schienenwege gestern und heute

122 impressive image comparisons of railway lines, railway facilities and stations demonstrate the changes in the railway as a means of transport in recent decades. The images compared do not only show railways, but also illustrate the structural change in the economy and its effects on the landscape and urban development.

For this edition of the series Railroads yesterday and today, we have explicitly limited ourselves to the Palatinate, which was incorporated into the state of Rhineland-Palatinate after the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Palatinate belonged to Bavaria at the time of the railway construction and beyond the time of the state railways. So there are still small but subtle differences to the railway lines in Rheinhessen and the other areas of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Thanks to the historical photographs by Helmut Röth, Wolfgang Löckel, Werner Bischoff and Prof. Dr. jur. Wolfgang Feuerhelm as well as other well-known photographers, this book documents the decline of the railway in the Palatinate on the one hand, but also the successful modernization from the mid-1980s onwards, which reached its final climax in the renewal of the fleet in the last three years with the SÜWEX and the modern diesel railcars.

It was not always easy to track down the locations where the historical photos were taken, but in most cases this was successful. The comparisons of Ludwigshafen with its former terminal station are particularly impressive. The Palatinate is a beautiful region and so this book is intended to invite you to explore the area by public transport - according to the motto: Annerschwu is annerschd unn hald nett wie in de P(f)alz...

Information

Auf Regionalstrecken durch Rheinland-Pfalz - Vom Westerwald zur Weinstraße

With over 200 brilliant photographs, this illustrated book invites you on an exciting journey through four decades of railway history in Rhineland-Palatinate. The impressive images document the changes in trains and rolling stock, the routes and, of course, the beauty of the landscape around the Westerwald and the Palatinate Mountains.
A must for railway enthusiasts, technology fans and anyone interested in rail transport in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Information

Die Moseltalbahn - Das 'Saufbähnchen'

In April 1903, the first section of the Moselle Valley Railway from Trier to Leiwen was officially opened, and in August 1905, the entire route was completed with the opening of the last section from Bernkastel to Bullay. From then on, the narrow-gauge railway, affectionately known as the "Saufbähnchen", connected the idyllic villages along the Middle Moselle between the river and the vineyards over a distance of 102 kilometers in around four hours' travel time.
Between 1961 and 1968, to the chagrin of many Moselle residents, passenger and freight traffic on the line, which had become unprofitable, was discontinued in sections. After the dismantling of the tracks and the demolition of the bridge structures and most of the stations, only a few traces of the railway remained that are still visible today.

In this book, the renowned historian and author of successful Mosel illustrated books, Karl-Josef Gilles, recalls the eventful history of the Moseltalbahn. With over 220 unique, previously largely unpublished photos, he reviews the construction, operation and end of the railway, shows the stations and viaducts, documents the technology and the changes in everyday railway life over six decades.

This illustrated book invites you to a nostalgic trip on the Moseltalbahn and lets not only railway enthusiasts imagine what an attractive means of transport the Mosel Valley has lost forever with the disappearance of the "Saufbähnchen".

Information

Die Moselbahn in der Nachkriegszeit

What could be nicer than gliding through the beautiful Moselle valley on the "Saufbähnchen" after an extensive wine tasting?
In 160 fascinating, previously largely unpublished photos, author Karl-Josef Gilles brings the new beginning and economic miracle years on the Moselle Valley Railway back to life, right up to the closure of the line. A real treasure trove for railway and Moselle fans.

Information