To answer Cabover Bob's second question, BNSF units that come into Oakland and need to be wyed for the outbound trip get turned on the Amtrak wye. Sort of a "professional courtesy" in return for BNSF supplying a freight unit when a San Joaquin train has engine trouble. Either the UP won't allow BNSF use of their wye, or it's too much trouble to get over onto the former WP lead to do it. Usually, they wye because the trailing unit is facing the wrong way, but this time that was not the case (maybe it was no good to lead). As for some Amtrak employees out watching the move, it has been rumored that a fair number of railfans work there.