Goodable

A group of good samaritans in Florida came together to rescue an elderly woman who was unconscious behind the wheel. Surveillance video at the intersection first shows the woman's co-worker running towards the rolling car when several other drivers spring into action to slow the vehicle and stop it from hitting others. The heroes then broke the car window and called 911 to save the woman behind the wheel, who was having a medical episode.

Strangers rushed into a busy intersection to <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/hswsYb4QcIQ" target="_blank">rescue an elderly woman who fell unconscious</a> while behind the wheel of a moving car in Florida.Surveillance video captured the moment when a woman slumped over the steering wheel and crossed into oncoming traffic. Several drivers sprang into action to slow the vehicle and stop it from hitting other cars head-on. The heroes smashed the rear car window and called 911.Police say the driver was having a medical episode. Working together, the group proceeded to push her car to a local parking lot, where a nurse provided the woman with medical attention until the fire department arrived.Police say they’ve contacted several of the good Samaritans and are planning to bring them together so the elderly woman can thank her rescuers.Click <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/hswsYb4QcIQ" target="_blank">HERE</a> to watch the heroic video!

These Heroic Strangers Saved An Unconscious Driver

People

Two hundred ducks crammed into a box truck were rescued by authorities north of Los Angeles last week, after their owner died unexpectedly, leaving no clear plan for their care.

The ducks were discovered in Palmdale on January 14. According to the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC), officers from the Palmdale Animal Control Center were called to the scene after the California Highway Patrol requested help with an unusual case: a truck full of ducks and no one to claim responsibility for them.

"This morning, our Palmdale ACC officers responded to a heartbreaking and unusual situation," DACC shared in a Facebook post. "CHP requested assistance with around 200 ducks who were found inside a box truck after the owner/guardian passed away."

With no paperwork, no destination, and no idea where the ducks were supposed to go, the officers prioritized getting the animals out of the truck and into safety. The rescue involved teams from three different animal care centers — Lancaster, Palmdale, and Castaic — who worked together to transport the ducks to holding facilities for food, water, and care.

“All of the ducks have now been safely transported to our care centers,” the agency said. “When the unexpected occurs, teamwork and compassion matter.”

Just a day later, DACC confirmed that the ducks had been returned to their legal owner, a company called Never Ending Quails, which contacted the Lancaster Animal Care Center on January 15.

While the incident made headlines for its scale, it’s not the first time ducks have found themselves in trouble — or been rescued in unique ways.

In 2021, a Hayward Police Department animal control officer named Susan Perez rescued 11 ducklings trapped in a storm drain using a simple but clever trick. She played “mama duck” sounds on her phone to lure the babies out of a pipe and safely reunite them with their mother. Perez had first noticed the mother duck pacing anxiously near the drain and acted quickly.

Other ducks have shown a remarkable ability to make themselves part of human families. In England, Phil and Julia Garner took in a single duckling named Freda in April 2021. By October 2022, Freda had grown up and left — but returned the following spring with 11 ducklings of her own. The couple decided to take in the whole group.

“Going from one duckling to 11 was chaos,” Phil said at the time. “They need to swim, they need to wash themselves. So we've got tubs everywhere. The garden looks like a bomb site, but I'm not bothered.”

In the Palmdale case, the outcome was far more orderly — but no less meaningful to those involved. In the absence of a clear plan, it was quick coordination and compassion that kept the ducks from being left behind.

After Owner Dies, 200 Ducks Were Rescued From a Truck And Safely Returned Home

Talker News

A 12-year-old boy is being praised across the UK after saving his mother’s life—and potentially others on the road—by taking the wheel when she collapsed while driving at 60 miles per hour.

Zac Howells was in the passenger seat as his mom, Nicola Crump, suddenly lost consciousness while driving along the A40 near Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire on December 14. Her foot remained on the accelerator, causing the car to speed up. That’s when Zac grabbed the wheel and steered the vehicle into a barrier to bring it to a stop.

Once the car had stopped, he turned off the engine and called emergency services.

“Basically I'm driving on a highway and my mom just fainted so I had to crash the car to stop,” Zac calmly told the dispatcher in the newly released emergency call audio from West Mercia Police. “Her foot went down on the pedal and it started accelerating, so I had to crash into the barrier.”

The call handler can be heard asking if everyone is alright. Zac, still composed, replies, “Well I mean, she's snoring, so I think she's okay. I dunno, I'm really scared.”

Body camera footage later showed Nicola regaining consciousness as Zac gently reassured her.

“Mum, it’s alright. Calm down, it’s fine. Hold my hand, you OK? Mum, breathe,” he told her.

“I passed out?” Nicola asked, still dazed.

“Yeah, and then you accelerated,” Zac explained. “No mum, it’s fine. I just drove the car. It’s really easy.”

Nicola repeatedly apologized, but Zac stayed focused on her. “It’s fine, Mum, you’re OK. I know we’re fine, I knew we were going to be fine.”

This week, Zac was awarded a Chief Constable’s Commendation from West Mercia Police, who described his actions as nothing short of heroic.

Chief Constable Richard Cooper said, “I am delighted to present Zac with this award today following what must have been an extremely frightening experience for such a young boy. For a 12-year-old to react in such a calm and mature manner is magnificent and I would like to express my gratitude for his actions that day. His display of bravery certainly extinguished any danger to them both but also that of other members of the public who were on the road that day.”

Zac and Nicola, who live in Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, had been driving from Wales to the Birmingham Christmas market when the incident happened. Nicola later told the BBC, “It’s been incredible. I’m just so proud of him and I’m so appreciative of the effort that everyone has gone through to make such a fuss of Zac.”

Zac, for his part, doesn’t quite understand all the attention.

“Even to this day, I don’t see it as a big deal,” he said, “but from other people’s perspective, it is.”

He recently visited West Mercia Police headquarters in Hindlip, Worcestershire, where he met the call-handlers and officers who responded that day.

Despite the drama of that afternoon, Zac remained characteristically lighthearted about the whole thing. “It’s really easy,” he joked about driving, before quickly adding, “I’m worried about you, not me.”

This Heroic 12-Year-Old Saved His Mom's Life After She Passed Out Behind the Wheel Going 60 MPH

At just 16 years old, Hugh Saetia has painted more than 50 portraits. But he’s not in it for the art scene or the accolades — he’s doing it for people grieving someone they love.

Saetia lives in Hermosa Beach, California, and runs a nonprofit called The Eternal Canvas Foundation. His mission is simple: offer grieving families something real to hold onto, something that says their loved one lived, and that they mattered.

“I want to ensure that every portrait is proof that someone lived, that they mattered,” he told ABC 7.

His work is deeply personal. Saetia was six when his mother died of gastrointestinal cancer. The loss left a lasting mark. Afterward, he was raised in part by his nanny, Marilyn McAllister, who became like a second mother. Years later, when McAllister lost her own son, Saetia watched her fall into grief — and felt helpless.

“As a 14-year-old with no money or no counseling degree, no words that could fix what she felt, I thought to myself, ‘What could I do?’” he said. That’s when his father suggested he paint a portrait.

That small gesture changed everything.

“When Hugh called me last night, he made me cry,” McAllister told ABC 7. The portrait hit her deeply. But so did Saetia’s words. “He told me, he said, ‘I couldn’t have done it without you, Marilyn.’”

That moment became the spark. Saetia decided to turn that one portrait into a mission. He founded The Eternal Canvas Foundation and began painting for others going through similar grief.

He’s since completed more than 50 portraits over two years, providing each one at no cost. He pays for materials himself, and gives the paintings away — not as decoration, but as something solid in a time when everything else can feel fragile.

The Savelas were one of the families he helped. Their son Ford was killed in a hit-and-run on the same day the Palisades fire started. Amid the chaos of that day, they say their loss was almost forgotten. So when Saetia delivered a portrait of Ford at his celebration of life, it meant more than they expected.

“These beautiful portraits of my Ford, it reminds me that there is still beauty and goodness in the world,” Ashley Savela said. “Your mind plays tricks on you, like he never existed, and here’s the proof that he was seen and that he was loved and that he mattered.”

Jim Savela said the power of Saetia’s gift comes from the fact that he understands what it’s like to lose someone. “Sometimes it takes someone who has experienced that kind of loss to try recognize it and do something to try to honor,” he told ABC 7.

Saetia doesn’t charge anything. He doesn't ask for recognition. He paints quietly, carefully, and with purpose. Each canvas becomes a small act of healing — a way to say, “You’re not alone,” from someone who knows what it’s like to be.

Teen Honors Late Mother By Painting Free Portraits For Grieving Families

At a glitzy gala in Nashville, the spotlight wasn’t on a celebrity or singer — it was on a dog named Bo.

Sgt. Bo, as he’s known, is not a police K9 or a rescue dog. He’s a therapy dog with a scruffy coat and a calm presence, and last week, he was named the American Humane Society’s 2025 Hero Dog of the Year.

“I never ever would have dreamed that that scruffy mutt would have such an impact,” said Faye Okert, Bo’s owner and a retired Nashville police officer, speaking to CBS News.

Bo's award isn’t tied to a dramatic rescue. His heroism came in a quieter, more lasting form — helping children heal after one of the worst tragedies in recent memory.

In March 2023, a gunman opened fire at The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville. Three children and three adults were killed. In the days after, fear and grief consumed the school community.

That’s when Bo arrived.

Alongside other therapy dogs from a nonprofit group called Comfort Connections, Bo visited the school shortly after the shooting. And he’s kept coming back. His job? Just to be there.

“He took the attention away from what was going on, and he was amazing,” Okert said.

Children who survived the shooting say they were scared to go back to school. The trauma was too fresh, the memories too vivid.

“I just didn’t feel safe,” one child told CBS News. “And then when I had the dogs, it just felt more better for me.”

Another added, “I could just see them or pet them or something, and it would just like calm me down immediately.”

For the kids, it didn’t matter what kind of dog it was. What mattered was that the dogs showed up — quietly, consistently — and offered comfort without saying a word.

“They were a comforting presence at a time that I needed it badly,” said Eleanor Dieckhaus, who lost her 9-year-old sister, Evelyn, in the attack.

Eleanor said she found it hard to cry in front of others or express how she was feeling. But the dogs made that easier.

“They can take your tears,” she said. “And sometimes, like the greatest form of hope can come from a dog that just sits there and lets you pet them.”

Bo’s job wasn’t to sniff out danger or chase down suspects. It was simply to be there for kids who needed him. And that, clearly, was enough.

Even now, nearly two years later, Bo and the other dogs still visit the Covenant School. They don’t ask questions. They don’t offer advice. They just show up, offering a kind of peace that only a dog can bring.

That’s what made Bo a hero. Not because he saved someone in the moment — but because he helped them start to feel safe again.

After Tragedy, a Scruffy Dog Named Bo Helped Nashville Kids Feel Safe Again

At Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, researchers are giving new meaning to the term “rescue dog.”

In a lab at the university’s Robotics Institute, a robot named Spotless is being trained to go where humans can’t — sniffing out danger, locating casualties, and helping medics make faster, safer decisions in disaster zones.

“This is the dog that saves your life,” said Kimberly Elenberg, a principal project scientist working on the project.

While Pittsburgh may still be known as the Steel City, it’s quietly building a second reputation as a national tech powerhouse. The U.S. Department of Defense has invested heavily in robotics and artificial intelligence here, fueling research projects like Spotless that blend cutting-edge technology with real-world application.

During a recent demonstration, Elenberg showed how Spotless could assist in a simulated search and rescue scenario. The robot dog — built on Boston Dynamics’ four-legged platform but customized with sensors and software — is equipped to navigate hazardous areas, detect environmental threats, and even monitor a victim’s vital signs.

“It’s looking for casualties,” Elenberg explained. “It wants to assess the situation.”

Using built-in chemical sensors and cameras, Spotless can “sniff” the air to detect dangerous gases and scan for movement or injuries. In the demonstration, it quickly identified potential victims and relayed their status back to human responders.

“This would have taken longer for the medics to come in, because they wouldn't have known, what is that gas,” Elenberg said. “They wouldn't have known, how many casualties are there.”

The goal is to reduce response times in critical situations, particularly in environments that are too risky for first responders to enter immediately — like chemical spills, bomb threats, or collapsed buildings.

And when Spotless finishes its mission? No biscuits or belly rubs. Just a fresh battery.

The project is part of a broader effort by Carnegie Mellon to push the boundaries of robotics for public safety and military use. With growing investment from the Department of Defense and private industry, Pittsburgh’s tech scene — anchored by institutions like Carnegie Mellon — is emerging as a national leader in robotics innovation.

As for Spotless, it might not bark or wag its tail, but when lives are on the line, it could be the first to find someone who needs help — and the reason they make it home.

Meet Spotless: The Robotic Rescue Dog That Could One Day Save Your Life

BBC News

The East Yorkshire coast is known for its stunning views and sandy beaches — but for a growing number of visitors, it’s what’s hidden beneath the surface that matters most.

Fossil hunting along the rapidly eroding cliffs and shores has become a major draw, attracting amateur paleontologists from as far afield as China and the United States. And for those who’ve caught the “bug,” there’s no turning back.

“You can't stop once the fossil hunting bug hits,” said Harry Tabiner, who’s been combing the beaches near Mappleton for years. On a bright but chilly winter’s day, he shared stories of his best finds, including a mammoth tusk and a woolly rhino tooth.

“When you find something that hasn't been seen for 200 million years, it's amazing. It's got the wow factor,” he said.

Tabiner’s obsession began when he was just four years old, thanks to his father bringing fossils home. It wasn’t until he was older that the fascination really took hold.

“We've had a caravan here at the coast for 35 years,” he said. “It was always fantastic to get on the beach, especially with my sons, to see what we could find. All fossils excite me. I don't think I could ever get bored of them.”

He’s not alone. On the sand nearby, fellow fossil hunter Mark Kemp, better known online as the Yorkshire Fossil Hunter, is already searching for his next discovery.

Fossil hunting has exploded in popularity, Kemp said, with social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok helping to turn the hobby into a global phenomenon.

“You meet some really interesting people,” he said. “I once took Hollywood actor Gary Oldman and his wife out collecting, but I've also met people from as far away as China.”

So what keeps people coming back?

“It makes you think about what used to be here,” Kemp said. “These fossils were around when the dinosaurs roamed the land and giant reptiles ruled the ocean. If you find a fossil, you know you're the first person to have ever seen it.”

As if to prove the point, he used a hammer to chip away at a smooth, round rock, revealing a perfect ammonite inside — a coiled, prehistoric shell frozen in time.

“It's a beauty,” he said, smiling.

While the thrill of discovery is undeniable, both Kemp and Tabiner urge caution for newcomers. Fossil hunting might seem harmless, but the coastline is notoriously unstable and the tides can turn quickly.

“You need to stay away from the cliff when you're on the beach,” Kemp warned. “And it is so important to look at the tide times. You want to collect when it’s falling and be back to safety before high water when the tide comes in.”

There are also rules to follow. Under the Coast Protection Act 1949, it’s illegal to remove natural materials like sand, shells, or pebbles from the beach. Enforcement varies by council, but fines can reach up to £1,000.

That said, fossils are generally permitted to be collected — as long as they're loose and not dug out from protected areas or cliff faces.

For those who come prepared, the rewards can be extraordinary: ancient lifeforms revealed in rock, the thrill of discovery, and a deep connection to the prehistoric past.

Or, as Tabiner puts it: “Once you get the bug, it’s hard to get rid of.”

Why Fossil Hunters are Flocking to the UK Coast In Search Of Prehistoric Treasures

After more than three decades of service, Richard Kirk has been recognised with a Long Service Award for his dedication to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in Cromer, north Norfolk.

Kirk, who joined the station at just 19, has played a part in saving at least 27 lives since first stepping into the lifeboat world in 1990. Now 53, he reflects on a lifetime of service that started with a single emergency launch he witnessed with his father back in 1989.

“I was instantly gripped,” he said. “The lifeboat station was my second family. It meant everything to me. From the moment I started coming down as a kid, I felt part of something special.”

Over the years, Kirk has taken on nearly every role possible within the crew — from navigator to head launcher to shore crew. Through it all, he never lost sight of the RNLI’s core mission: saving lives at sea.

“It’s nice to know those 27 people are hopefully still with us today,” he said. “You are never going to top people like Henry Blogg.”

Blogg, a Cromer fisherman who died in 1954, is considered the RNLI’s most decorated lifeboatman and remains a towering figure in the station’s history. But Kirk, who recently stepped away from lifeboat duties in November 2023, has quietly built a legacy of his own.

“I’ve never ever not felt safe on a lifeboat,” he said. “I’ve been in some rough weather on the boat and I’ve never ever not felt safe. Everything I’ve done — from exercises to launching to lifeboat days — I’ll never forget them.”

Kirk's decades-long involvement coincided with major changes in the RNLI. What was once a crew made up entirely of local fishermen now draws in people from all backgrounds.

“When I first joined in 1990, the whole crew was just fishermen,” he said. “Now it’s all walks of life who come through the door.”

Despite stepping back, he says the rewards of the job have always been clear.

“The rewards of saving someone’s life or just being there — you’ll learn lots of new skills. It’s worth doing, definitely.”

John Redmond, lifeboat operations manager at Cromer RNLI, praised Kirk’s contribution.

“Richard’s dedication to Cromer Lifeboat Station over so many years has been exceptional,” he said. “He has carried out a wide range of demanding roles with skill, reliability and passion and his commitment has made a real difference.

“We are hugely grateful for everything he has given to the station and the RNLI.”

This Hero Was Just Honored for 30 Years of Lifesaving Service

Tucked away in the quiet village of Holwell, Dorset, sits one of Britain’s most charming historical quirks: the country’s oldest working octagonal red postbox. Still in use nearly 170 years after it was first installed, the postbox has become an unlikely attraction for history buffs, postal enthusiasts, and curious passersby from across the UK.

What sets this postbox apart isn’t just its age — it’s the shape. Most UK postboxes are cylindrical, but the Holwell box features the rare octagonal design used in the earliest days of the Royal Mail’s roadside letterboxes. And while it may look solid and dependable, it hasn’t always been the most practical.

“I posted someone a letter and I waited and waited but they didn't receive it,” said Pat Bath, who lives right next door. “After three weeks, I took it up with the postman when he came and he opened up the letterbox and it was there, still inside, impaled on some netting in the bottom.”

The box’s odd angles and narrow opening were designed in a time when most mail was slim and square. But modern-sized letters sometimes get stuck, and repairs aren’t easy either.

“It does cause quite a challenge to the guys who repair them because obviously parts from 1853 are hard to come by,” said local postman Ryan Steer. “But somehow, they always work their miracles and get it operational again fairly quickly.”

Despite the occasional hiccup, the postbox continues to delight. Visitors often make the trek to Holwell just to snap a photo. Some even knock on Bath’s door, assuming she owns the postbox, and politely ask for permission to take pictures.

Steer says he’s lost count of how many times he’s been asked to pose with it. “One gentleman, who'd come all the way from London just to come have a look at it, was one of my first ones,” he said. “I felt a bit embarrassed because I didn't know too much about it. After that I thought I'd better learn a bit more for when people do turn up.”

Holwell’s postbox has a proud place in British postal history, dating back to 1853, just after letterboxes were trialed in the Channel Islands. The idea for roadside letterboxes came from Anthony Trollope — better known as a novelist, but who also worked as a surveyor’s clerk for the Post Office. He had seen similar boxes in Europe and suggested the idea as a solution to poor postal access on the Channel Islands.

The first boxes were installed on Guernsey and Jersey in the early 1850s, and after a successful run, the idea was adopted on the UK mainland — with Holwell’s octagonal box among the very first.

Chris Taft from the Postal Museum says the early design eventually gave way to the familiar round shape, in part because it couldn’t accommodate modern mail.

“It was designed in a day when letters were smaller,” Taft said. “There was no such thing as large format letters that we get today.”

Still, the postbox in Holwell remains a link to that early postal era — a bright red reminder of how a simple idea helped transform how people sent mail.

For Steer, who empties the box regularly, the novelty hasn’t worn off. “I do feel weirdly lucky in a way that I'm emptying the oldest postbox in the UK,” he said.

And for visitors who make the trip to this sleepy Dorset village, it’s a rare chance to see a piece of living history — one you can still post a letter in.

This Tiny Village is Home to the UK’s Oldest Working Postbox — and People Can’t Stop Visiting

YR - Aurora News

It’s not officially winter in Midland until Pat Brodeur finishes sculpting his backyard snow creatures.

For the fourth year in a row, Brodeur has transformed the yard behind his Wawinet Street home into a snow-sculpture showcase. This year’s centerpiece? A towering three-metre polar bear, complete with black stencilled claws, eyes, ears, and lips. Beside it, a cub keeps watch near a custom-built ice hole that will soon host a polar bear plunge.

“The main event is the polar bear; it’s probably bigger than the largest polar bear ever,” Brodeur said.

The project also includes a functional igloo built with hand-cut snow blocks and a firepit tucked inside, forming a cozy winter den. Brodeur began sculpting the cub at 7 a.m. one morning and finished it within a few hours. But to complete the scene, he had to raise the entire level of his backyard — all for the sake of getting the polar bear to appear as if it’s peering into the three-foot-deep ice hole.

“I’ve got a dunk tank, so I do cold-plunges, which I’ll do next week,” he said. Naturally, the plunge will be followed by time in the backyard sauna just a few steps away.

The sculpture came together thanks to a generous December snowfall and some very neighbourly snow sharing.

“I was shovelling for six neighbours, scooping it and bringing it over,” Brodeur said. “I would say, ‘Can I borrow your snow?’ They would say, ‘Take as much as you need!’”

The igloo itself started as a structure around the backyard firepit, until a young neighbour helped shift the vision.

“‘Oh, look at the castle; you need a creature with this castle,’” the child said. “And so it just started.”

At first, Brodeur used recycling bins to shape the igloo blocks, but eventually switched to using a handsaw on tightly packed snow from the front yard — a method closer to how traditional igloos are built on frozen lakes.

“When they make an igloo, they go onto the lake and cut blocks; so this is the true form of making an igloo, once I pack it down and it’s gone through the thaw,” he explained.

Brodeur’s backyard sculptures have become an annual tradition. Past creations include a Norse kraken, a Himalayan yeti, and a fire-breathing dragon alongside a snow castle. While he’s never been a traditional woodcarver, he’s dabbled in crafting wooden toys and vehicles for friends and kids, drawing from designs they’ve given him.

His wife Mary says that every year brings a new surprise.

“Every year he just gets better and better at it,” she said. “He sometimes says, ‘I’m not going to do it this year, it’s a lot of work,’ but then winter rolls around and the snow starts coming down, and I see the twinkle in his eye… and the next thing I know he’s in the backyard.”

Despite growing attention, Brodeur says he has no interest in entering competitions like Penetanguishene’s Winterama festival.

“That kind of scares me, to have a competition where you’re under the gun. I like when I can go at my own pace,” he said.

The snow and ice creations sit quietly behind the Brodeur home, but they’re never lonely. Curious visitors often wander by for a friendly look, eager to see what new sculpture has sprung up with the season.

One thing’s for sure — in Midland, winter isn’t just a season. It’s a canvas.

Ontario Man Unveils Giant Polar Bear Snow Sculpture to Delight Visitors

A steam engine made famous by The Railway Children is set to run again after an anonymous donor contributed £200,000 to bring it back to life.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) confirmed the donation will fund the full restoration of locomotive No 5775, a six-wheeled pannier tank engine best known for its role in the 1970 film starring Jenny Agutter, Bernard Cribbins, and Lionel Jeffries.

“We are incredibly grateful for this generosity,” said Fran Hartley, who is co-leading the restoration project. “It has allowed us to begin restoring a locomotive that means so much to the railway and to the public. Our volunteers are now making steady progress and bringing this remarkable engine back to life.”

Built in 1929 at Swindon Works for the Great Western Railway, No 5775 spent decades working in south Wales before it was withdrawn from mainline service in 1963. It was then sold to London Transport and rebranded as L89, where it worked on engineering and maintenance trains around the capital.

The locomotive was rescued for preservation in 1970 and brought to the KWVR in West Yorkshire. That same year, it was repainted in a fictional livery as part of its starring role in The Railway Children.

Since being withdrawn from heritage service in 1999, the engine has remained largely out of sight, awaiting a full overhaul. Now, thanks to the unexpected financial boost, restoration work is underway at the charity’s Haworth base.

The news coincides with fresh momentum for the historic railway itself. Earlier this week, Bradford Council released the first £50,000 from a wider £5 million government investment aimed at upgrading the KWVR’s infrastructure.

That money, part of a £19.8 million Levelling Up deal for Keighley announced in 2023, will go towards a feasibility study that includes hiring a project manager and scoping improvements such as track restoration, signalling upgrades, and better facilities across the line.

Matt Stroh, chairman of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, called the funding a strong start to 2026.

“We’ve worked closely with the team at Bradford Council and this is a great way to start the new year,” he said. “We are delighted to be moving forward with these transformative plans. It will serve as the foundation for securing further investment, driving tourism, creating local jobs, and enhancing community pride.”

The twin developments — a beloved engine returning to steam and new money flowing into the railway’s future — have set an optimistic tone for what’s shaping up to be a milestone year for one of Britain’s most iconic heritage lines.

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