NSB El 12 was an electric locomotive used by the Norwegian State Railways (NSB) to haul iron ore trains on Ofoten Line between 1957 and 1990.

The locomotives were based on the Swedish Dm that was used with success on the connecting Iron Ore Line.

To solve the problems with increased traffic, the railway companies had the choice of either building double track or hauling longer trains.

The Swedish State Railways (SJ), who operated the trains from the mines to Riksgränsen, chose to buy 12 Dm units in 1952, based on the Da units from 1950.

NSB chose to buy six more or less identical units from Motala Verkstad in 1954 and an additional two in 1957 from NOHAB.