While you're basically correct, there's one point worth correcting: Caltrain locos need to put out 4000 hp because diesel trains built to US standards are ridic

While you're basically correct, there's one point worth correcting: Caltrain locos need to put out 4000 hp because diesel trains built to US standards are ridiculously heavy, see eg. https://bikeeastbay.org/rail/fra.html https://bikeeastbay.org/rail/fra.html. A modern EMU is much lighter and consequently needs a lot less power.