The 30-kilometer (19 mi) long ferry trip made it possible for Norsk Hydro to transport its fertilizer from the plant at Rjukan to the port in Skien.

The ferry services were operated by the company's subsidiary Norsk Transport from 1909 to 1991, when the plant closed.

One of the ferries was in 1944 the target of the Norwegian heavy water sabotage when it was sunk to 430 meters (1,411 ft) depth to prevent Nazi Germany from developing nuclear weapons.

In 1929 Norsk Hydro also establish itself at Herøya in Porsgrunn, and in 1991 the factory in Rjukan, and therefore also the railway line, was closed.

In 1997 the ownership of the track was transferred to Stiftelsen Rjukanbanen, a foundation that started heritage operation of the line in 1999.

On February 20, 1944 the ship was blown up by the Norwegian resistance movement at Lake Tinn's deepest point, 430 meters (1,411 ft) with a load of heavy water onboard heading for Germany.

SF Ammonia was built the same year and was the largest of the three steam ships at 929 GRT, two 336 kW (451 hp) engines and a length of 70.4 m (231 ft).