Re: "..given the diesels a run for their money"

Scott,
In the early years of the diesels, coupled engines were considered as one engine. For example, the Soo Line considered an A-B-A set of F-7s to be one 4,500 H.P. locomotive and the engines were even numbered 201A, 201B and 201C refered to as one locomtotive numbered 201. The Soo Line nicknamed thee A-B-A locomotives "Queen Marys". Thus, a 6,000 H.P. locomotive was most likely an A-B-B-A set of F-units (F-3s or F-7s). I believe some of this logic was due to avoid giving engineers extra pay for operating more than one locomotive. I received this information from Soo Line retired engineers
Sincerely,
Andy Roth