This history is in Harry Wright's own words: 

 

I think I was born to be a railroader.  I can't remember when I didn't think trains!  This is how I became a fireman, and eventually engineer, on the Hillcrets Locomotive. The company over the years owned four steam locomotives.  No.1: A small 25 ton Shay (now at the Forest Museum in Duncan).  No.9: A 50 ton Climax (now restored at the Forest Museum in Duncan) No.10: A 70 ton Climax (now at Elbe, Washington and operating in the summer on Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad)  No.11: A 90 ton Shay (preserved at Fort Steele, near Cranbrook, B.C.)  My first ride on the 10 spot took place one night in 1956.  I made a trip to Lake Cowichan and back to Mesachie Lake with Pete Watson (Brakeman), George Grant (Engineer) and Gus Bergman (Fireman).  I knew right away that was the job for me.  In the spring of 1957, the 10 spot went into the shop for repairs.  In those days it was the practice for the Engineer to go to the shop with his locomotive to oversee the repairs.  George Grant went into the shop and Hillcrest brought George Rolfe up from Crofton to run the 9 spot, which replaced No. 10. (Pete Watson was Brakeman and Bob Taylor Jr. was Fireman).  It was during the Easter school break that year that I rode with them as often as I could and learned to fire.  I wasn't good but I knew the basics.  The first chance I had to display my skills, occurred in June 1959.  Gus Bergman took sick and Hillcrest pulled Willy Patrick from the powerhouse to fire the loci.  He didn't do well, as firing a locomotive is much different than firing sawdust in boilers.  The next day, a Tuesday, Jim Paradis was brought over to fire but with similar results.  My dad George (Shorty) Wright kept me informed and on Tuesday night I decided to go see Jack Irving and tell him I could fire the loci.  He phoned back later that night and on Wednesday morning I started firing on the 10 spot.  This great job lasted 8 days and then we went on strike for the whole summer.  I went back to school.  January 1961 was the year all the lower areas of Lake Cowichan flooded, including the CPR yard (E&N).  Diesel-electric locomotives cannot operate in water.  My next trip firing occurred one night during the flood, when we steamed up the No.10 to go to Lake Cowichan to pick up empty cars from the E&N diesels on higher ground east of the rail yard.  Several times after that I came out to fire whenever they were short, ( yes, I missed some school).  Gus Bergman retired in the summer of 1961 and I became the Fireman.  I wrote my locomotive Engineer's certificate in June 1965 and George Grant retired in September of that year, I became Engineer.  The locomotive time served me well, as I had enough firing time to write a 3rd Class Stationary Engineer's certificate in 1971.  I worked several years as a 3rd Class Engineer, then in 1981, I wrote my 2nd Class Engineer's certificate.  I retired as an Engineer at Harmac Pulp Mill in 2004.

                                                                                Harry A. Wright