The Island's director of public transport says the owners of vintage Manx rail stock have taken the Leisure Division of the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure for a ride over storage of their collection.
The four vehicles, a locomotive, carriage and two MER freight cars, have been housed in the department's railway sheds for years at the taxpayers' expense, but Ian Longworth says they must now go.
That provoked a furious response from the Isle of Man Rail and Tramway Preservation Society, which is accusing Mr Longworth of reneging on a deal to maintain the Loco, No 8, Fenella.
Mr Longworth says the arrangement has no legal status and he needs the space for the new season.
He also says the society's chairman, Robert Hendry, has changed his mind over a new agreement:
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