AN Enniskillen man who has been instrumental in keeping the spirit of railways alive in Fermanagh says he is “deeply humbled” to have been nominated for a community hero award.

Selwyn Johnston of Headhunters Barber Shop and Railway Museum says he considers the nomination “an honour” for all those who have helped establish and support the work that he does.

The tireless efforts of Mr. Johnston and his brothers Gordon and Nigel in promoting this much missed piece of Fermanagh’s past has not gone unnoticed as evident by the scores of people who visit the museum on Darling Street every week. Indeed, his love of railways and the way in which he continues to educate people of all ages on the topic is one of the reasons why he has been nominated for the prestigious award.

“The railway museum is famous for being the only barber shop and museum in the world which always welcomes the cuts,” laughs Mr. Johnston. “It continues to expand and every weekend you ‘ll find me welcoming the many visitors and adding new exhibits to the museum,” he said.

Mr. Johnston’s interest in local railway heritage was inspired by his cousin Bertie who worked as a signalman at Belturbet Station. In 1997 on the 40th anniversary of the closure of Fermanagh’s railways, Mr. Johnston and Kevin Love, a former Great Northern Railway Ireland fireman, organised a railway reunion dinner for former employees. This was complemented by an exhibition of railway memorabilia at Enniskillen Library and a slide show by Charles Friel at the Ardhowen Theatre. Such was the interest that they organised further events including nostalgic bus trips along the Great Northern Railway Ireland and the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway lines.

The two men had a dream of opening a railway museum but they had neither a suitable location or finances to sustain it. An innovative solution was required and by accident Mr. Johnston’s brothers Nigel and Gordon at Headhunters Barbers Shop came to the rescue.

“Starting with a small number of exhibits within the barbers the railway museum was officially opened by former railwaymen Kevin Love, Vincent Beattie and Billy Hawthorne on the 45th anniversary of the railways closure in 2002. Today, thanks to former railway employees and enthusiasts the museum, which is a registered charity with free admission, has one of the largest collections of Irish railway memorabilia on display,” explained Mr. Johnston.

He says there is “much excitement” when the men discover a new railway photograph or an item from the railway line which brings them a little closer to understanding a part of local history. “Railways touched our lives in many different ways so it’s not surprising that they are so fondly remembered. On the railway everyone played an important part and was dependent on each other whether you were the driver, fireman, station master, porter, engine cleaner, ticket collector or responsible for oiling the wheels. Similarly the railway museum values the skills of all its volunteers like Sam Little creating the model railway or Alan Devers guiding a school group around the museum, not forgetting Gordon and Nigel,” he said.

He is typically humble about the award nomination, saying the the real heroes who deserve recognition are “those who worked on the railway and have fond memories of travelling on it.” “I try to keep Fermanagh’s railway story alive and want to share our heritage. I am proud to carry the railway heritage baton which has been passed to me by those who worked on the line and are now few in number. It’s rather special whenever a railway item in the museum triggers a special memory for someone and you can literally see them being transported back in time over 50 years.

“It’s great to see children take such an interest in railways even though, like me, they never remember steam trains trundling through Fermanagh. With railways gone over half a century, one has to be creative in keeping the romance of steam alive,” he said.

And he has certainly done that, having organised several vintage steam traction engine road runs around various former railway stations in Fermanagh and the Border counties. “A regular event in the calendar is the ‘Steam and Shamrocks’ Steam traction engine road run from Irvinestown to Enniskillen on St. Patrick’s Day when we invite a special guest driver such as Fr Brian D’Arcy to take the wheel,” he said.

As the railways played their part during World War Two with the transportation of thousands of US soldiers and supplies to bases throughout Fermanagh, Mr. Johnston has a special interest in the visit of General Eisenhower and Patton to Enniskillen in 1944 and through his research unearthed new photographs, documents and film footage of the visit. Along with Roger Edmondson he helped organise several commemorative events to mark their visit and that of D-Day and VE Day, which were attended by the US Consul General to Northern Ireland, war veterans and other dignitaries. In summing up his contribution to community life, Mr. Johnston said: “I am privileged to have met some lifelong friends and fellow enthusiasts through my interest in railway heritage, which has opened up so many facets of social history within the community, previously unknown to me.” As someone who has worked in mental health for over 25 years, Mr. Johnston says he continually promotes the positive concept of ‘Five Ways to Well being’ – Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give. It is, if you like, his motto in life.

“It is a concept which is equally important to me and encapsulates what I, and many others would wish for everyone to embrace within our community,” said Mr. Johnston.