It started as a SBB Re 3/4. This is the prototype :http://images.google.no/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dansk-jernbanearkiv.dk/nsb/dpi700/el172231.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dansk-jernbanearkiv.dk/nsb/foel17.htm&h=369&w=700&sz=70&hl=no&start=8&tbnid=5Zvy3ePMpwVQjM:&tbnh=74&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnsb%2Bel%2B17%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Dno%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG