Johannessen grew up at Lambertseter and is educated at the Jazz program Trondheim Musikkonservatorium and the University of Oslo.
The first operation on the Lambertseter Line with the SM53-trams was on 10 April 1957, after technical trials had been conducted with the Gullfisk-trams.
They were known for planning residential areas such as Lambertseter and Tveita, as well as sports venues such as Bislett stadion, Holmenkollbakken, Frognerbadet and Jordal Amfi.