Lewiston Railroad Bridge

Central Maine Railroad trestle spanning the Androscoggin River. Lewiston-Auburn, ME.

In March of 1936 a warm, moisture-laden front moved into and stalled over New England, resulting in unseasonably warm temperatures as well as heavy rainfall. Totals topped 15 inches of rain in a 14-day period. A deep snowpack melted rapidly and rivers that were choked with ice overflowed their banks.  At Gulf Island Dam the river roared over at 212,000 cubic feet per second, topping the previous  record of 60,000.  More than a dozen railroad cars filled with gravel were pulled onto the trestle spanning Great Falls.  The extra weight was meant to keep the bridge from washing away.  Source:  http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_8028/is_20090310/ai_n44728701/