August 26th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

A social media comment from an Allegany County Commissioner in response to a t-shirt being sold in the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad gift shop has generated some controversy- with a frustrated group of railroad employees attending Thursday nights public meeting. The shirt depicts a steam engine soaring above the motto: ”Ridgeley West Virginia: Home of the Thunder No. 1309”. Commissioner David Caporale on his facebook page posted a picture of the t-shirt and made note that the majority of the railroad funding comes from Maryland- primarily the county along with the cities of Frostburg and Cumberland. Those attending the session criticized Caporale for posting the comment which they say has led to some backlash…

Those addressing Caporale made note that the steam engine is housed at the rail yard in Ridgeley and the shirt was a way of thanking that community for tolerating some of the inconveniences that can create. For his part, Caporale said he was simply trying to see that those providing funding are properly credited for those contributions…