The 18 km (11 mi) long railway line was built in the 1850s with the purpose of transporting iron ore between the Norberg mining area and the lake Åmänningen, for further transport on barges on the Strömsholm Canal.

Transport of goods on the first part of the line, Kärrgruvan – Trättbo begun in December 1853 with the first steam engine built in Sweden, Förstlingen (the First One), constructed by the Munktell Mechanical Workshops in Eskilstuna.

A reconstructed company, Norbergs Nya Järnvägs AB was formed in 1855 and finished the whole line to Ängelsberg at the lake of Åmänningen in 1856.

Engelsbergs Norberg Järnvägshistoriska förening (ENJ), the Engelsberg-Norberg Heritage Railway Association, started in 1999, aims to organize regular traffic for tourists with diesel railcars between Ängelsberg and Kärrgruvan.

ENJ's long term hopes are to run a summer steam service on the line, and has secured these coaches to be used when appropriate motive power becomes available.