Record rainfall in the Sierra Nevada mountains in December 1964 caused water to breach the yet uncompleted Hell Hole Reservoir Dam located 40 miles east of the City of Auburn, Placer County, California. As the water surge arrived at the Highway 49 Bridge between Auburn and Cool, the Highway 49 bridge was completely destroyed, while the older concrete railroad crossing in the background survives to this day. Norm Sayler Collection, Donner Summit Historical Society. View full size.
Record rainfall in the Sierra Nevada mountains in December 1964 caused water to breach the yet uncompleted Hell Hole Reservoir Dam located 40 miles east of the City of Auburn, Placer County, California. As the water surge arrived at the Highway 49 Bridge between Auburn and Cool, the Highway 49 bridge was completely destroyed, while the older concrete railroad crossing in the background survives to this day. Norm Sayler Collection, Donner Summit Historical Society. | Click image for Comments. | Home | Browse All Photos