Mæl is where the Rjukanbanen railway meets Tinnsjøen. This was the transfer point where railway wagons were rolled directly onto ferries for the 30-kilometre crossing of the lake. It was the only railway ferry service on a lake in Norway.
Two of the original ferries are still docked here. SF Ammonia, built in 1929, is the last surviving steam-powered railway ferry in the world. MF Storegut is one of only two ships in the world inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list. On special occasions, Storegut sails on the lake.
The station closed in 1991 when the railway ceased regular operations. Today it is a quiet spot on the lakeshore. If you are driving from Rjukan towards Tinnsjøen, it is a short detour to see the ferries and the old quay.
Two of the original ferries are still docked here. SF Ammonia, built in 1929, is the last surviving steam-powered railway ferry in the world. MF Storegut is one of only two ships in the world inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list. On special occasions, Storegut sails on the lake.
The station closed in 1991 when the railway ceased regular operations. Today it is a quiet spot on the lakeshore. If you are driving from Rjukan towards Tinnsjøen, it is a short detour to see the ferries and the old quay.