I will be in San Francisco for a few days next week, and I will be able to go railfanning one of those days. My goal is to find somewhere to see full speed, 70 mph intermodal action. Since I won’t have a car, it will need to be at an Amtrak station. I have narrowed my possibilities down to a few stations on the BNSF Bakersfield Sub (Madeira or Turlock-Denair) but I have no idea if these are safe/comfortable places to stake out for a few hours without a car. If anyone has info on this or other spots to suggest that would be great.
The stations you picked are in Farm country, BNSF Stockton sub is Single track,CTC,Amtrak,BNSF,UP trackage rights action.
BNSF has an intermodal yard near Stockton,Also has a Diamond Crossing with UP in the Downtown area,believe walking distance
from the Stockton Amtrak Depot,UP Fresno Sub Crosses there, 2 track CTC, Near by is UP's Stockton yard,UP thru trains,yard moves,Alatmont
Commuter express trains for action there,
Also Port of Stockton interchange is close by,possible interchang moves to BNSF and UP.