A mother and father with their son on board a steam train

Celebrated as Kent’s Mainline in Miniature, this iconic railway takes passengers on a memorable thirteen and a half-mile journey aboard one-third-scale steam and diesel locomotives, travelling from Hythe to the striking coastal nature reserve of Dungeness.

Our generous long-term supporter, Phil Swallow, kindly donated the train ride to Momentum which saw 40 people aboard.

It was a chance for our supported families to have the opportunity to relax and spend some quality time together, giving them a break from the stress and worry that comes with having a child who is seriously unwell.

Families enjoyed a picnic at Hythe, before making their return journey.

Talking about the event, one family shared: ” Thank you for inviting us to the steam train outing – we all had a fantastic time! The wheelchair access was excellent, making it easy and stress-free to get on and off the train. The staff at the station, and the lovely volunteers were absolutely wonderful throughout the day. From the moment we arrived, we felt comfortable. These events are always a special time for us; we get to spend quality time together as a family and we really look forward to them. We left with lots of happy memories and photos and would highly recommend it to other families.”

Phoebe, a mum who attended the event with her son, Elis, and husband, said: “Elis has multiple complex conditions, so I often worry that he won’t be able to get involved in activities and at events. However, the steam train was completely accessible with ramps and wheelchair accessible carriages, and everyone was so helpful. It was lovely to meet other families supported by Momentum. We hope to go on the charity’s riverboat and have a break at one of their respite cabins in the future.”

 A huge thank you to thank you to Phil Swallow the staff at Romney, Hythe, and Dymchurch Railway station and to our volunteers who helped on the day.

Is Momentum supporting your family? Find out about our family trips and experiences here