The double head Pondosa trip with the #19 proved to be the #25's only recorded use in 1962. The following year saw the #25 fired up at least three times, first in May for another "Shata Wonderland" tour, and lastly in August for a weekend excrusion. The middle trip would prove to be perhaps the most famous McCloud River excursion ever operated.

The Pacific Locomotive Association was one of the newer railfan and railroad history organizations in the Bay Area. The group had started collecting railroad equipment at their Castro Point Railroad and chartering excursions. Several PLA members came up with an idea for a photo freight exscursion with the #25. The railroad agreed, but suggested that the planned early June date be pushed back to later June to ensure better weather. The trip operated on 22 June, and the #25 pulled a consist of a McCloud River tank car for additional water supplies, a Great Northern boxcar, two McCloud River log flats, McCloud's open air passenger flat, a Western Pacific gondola outfitted with seats for excursions, and one of the brand new wide vision cabooses. Railroad president Flake Willis recommended the riders bring plenty of sunscreen; however, sunshine ended up being a rare commodity that day, and at one point the train operated in a driving hail storm. Most of the passengers ended up spending what turned out to be a wet and cold day huddled inside the boxcar for the long run to Burney and back. The trip was a huge operational and financial success.