[1] 44 units produced until February 2001 (Indian Railway road number 15501-15544) had dual cab forward design different from other classes of locos built by DLW (WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDG-3A and WDP-1).

A problem with the WDP-3A was that it would get uncomfortably hot inside the driving cabin on the radiator side and the locos were nicknamed “toasters” by the locomotive pilots.

The WDP-3A was best known for hauling the Trivandrum Rajdhani and later on the Mumbai CSMT - Karmali Tejas Express through the Konkan Railway at a top speed of 120 kmh single-handedly.

In 2018, a couple of GOC-based WDP-3A locomotives were rebuilt at DMW Patiala with better bogies for riding comfort.

However, due to age issues and cracking of bogie underframes, the WDP-3A locomotives of DLS, GOC, and KYN were withdrawn gradually from hauling passenger trains and were relegated to departmental use.