THE popular Hengistbury Head land train could be left without a home and forced to stop running.
The "noddy train", as it is commonly called, takes tourists and walkers through the nature reserve to Mudeford spit at Christchurch Harbour.
The council plans to turn its depot into a visitor's centre - and no replacement base has been found.
A spokesman for the land train, which is privately owned and operated, said: "The council said the train is too old and doesn't meet modern expectations.
"If they could have seen it on Sunday when we had three full trains running all day, they would see how it meets expectations.
"We have been asking and asking what is going to happen to us. We have been told almost nothing. We feel we are in the dark."
The train currently operates out of the council-owned Rangers Lodge. The nearby Marine Centre does not have the right facilities to house the train, said the council.
And Roderick Watkins, proprietor of nearby Solent Meads golf course, said it had no suitable facilities.
East Southbourne and Tuckton councillor Basil Ratcliffe said: "It's a very serious problem. It's a local feature which we can hardly afford to lose. Tourists will be asking where it's gone."
The train celebrated its 40th birthday in April. It employs four full-time staff and up to another four or five seasonal staff.
Bournemouth council had no comment to make on whether it believed the train failed to meet modern expectations. But its business development manager Chris Saunders said: "We will be working with the train operator to find a workable solution for the land train storage.
"There are a number of different options available and an appraisal of these with the operator still needs to take place."
