Despite the introduction of more modern types of locomotives like WDG-4 and electrification, a significant number are still in use, both in mainline and departmental duties.

widely used across India for long-distance passenger trains due to its ruggedness and high tractive loads and acceleration.

[1][2] First 57 units produced till March 1996 (Indian Railway road number 14001–14057) had rounded front hood profile similar to contemporary newer classes of locos built by DLW (WDG-3A and WDP-1).

[4] DLW again started building WDM-3A from the year 2000 and continued till the end of 2002 with locomotive road numbers in the range 14058–14143.

All the locomotives rebuilt by DLMW and later batch from DLW had regular WDM-2 type square short hood profile and control stand position.

In 2011, DLMW rebuilt locomotive number 16502 as WDM-3A and equipped it with an Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system jointly developed by Engine Research Laboratory of IIT Kanpur, Engine Development Directorate of RDSO, and DLMW Patiala.

[6] Some rebuilt locomotives have Co-Co-fabricated ATHS (Advanced Trimount High Speed) bogies instead of ALCo cast-iron type.