Today's ABC Open photos

Standing silently and still

By Di Lymbury (Nardoo) ·  · From My Back Roads

This disused rail line wends its way through the Northern Rivers area of NSW. 

It was the first on the North Coast and was opened in 1894. 

It went from Murwillumbah, Byron Bay and Lismore, extending to Casino in 1903. 

A branch line was built to Kyogle in 1910 and this was extended to Brisbane in 1930. 

Before too long, the link to Brisbane formed the main Sydney to Brisbane line and the Casino to Murwillumbah line became a secondary line. 

I remember travelling as a child on this line from Casino to Murwillumbah. 

It ran through the picturesque green hills of the Northern Rivers.

As a child, I also travelled on the Sydney to Brisbane line regularly from Casino to Whiporie, often home from boarding school on a Friday afternoon. 

My sisters and I had to arrive at the station early to inform the conductor that we would be on the train so he could have the train stop at Whiporie, (not a regular scheduled stop) to let us off.

One day, I remember the conductor forgot to stop the train so we ran through the carriages trying to find him. 

We were halfway to Banyabba before we found him and he immediately pulled the emergency cord so the train came to a sudden stop. 

He went through to the engine and the train started to reverse all the way back to Whiporie. 

I clearly remember feeling extremely embarrassed. 

Everyone around us was wondering why we were reversing and some very loudly spoken American tourists with strong accents were drawling, "Why are we going backwards?"

We scrambled out at the station feeling mortified, as only teenage girls of that era can. 

I can't imagine that in this day and age state rail would be so very accommodating.

It is sad to see this Casino to Murwillumbah branch line standing silently neglected. 

There has been talk of converting it into a cycleway but it never seems to eventuate. 

What a marvellously scenic tourist attraction it would be.

Published 29 Jan 2017.  North Lismore NSW 2480

Karlo pools, Royal National Park

By apall93 ·  · From Pic of the Week 

Uloolatrack Royal National Park bushwalk karlo pools.  Published 19 Jan 2017      Helensburgh NSW 2508

Keeping an eye out  By A McTavish ·  · From Pic of the Week

Tawny frogmouths come back every year to have their babies. One year we had a nest fall and managed to make another and return the babies to their mother who had alerted us by her mournful cries.

Yes it happened again as seen in the photo. This time the babies were older. We do not have any cats, dogs or foxes on the property, their only danger was being observed too much by us. Oh and the odd hungry goanna.

All survived and moved on.  Published 24 Jan 2017.  Goonengerry NSW 2482

Leaving our mark with everyone else

By Catherine ·  · From Pic of the Week

Port Macquaries break walls are decorated with colourful images and names from locals and visitors from afar.  Published 24 Jan 2017.  Port Macquarie NSW 2444

The bottom of Myrtle Forest Falls

By shelleaman ·  · From Pic of the Week

After crawling under fallen trees, balancing on island rocks and picking up a few hungry hitchhiking leeches along the way we made it to the bottom of Myrtle Forest Falls. Published 23 Jan 2017.  Wellington Park TAS 7054

Better in pots

By kathysharvest ·  · From Pic of the Week

I have decided that my large strawberries do much better in pots and hanging baskets as have had no dramas with critters eating them so will continue to grow them this way. The alpine strawberries do much better in a garden bed. I love that each day another delicious   strawberry is ready to pick.   Published 21 Dec 2016.  Melbourne VIC 3004

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