§ 216. When town not liable for damages. No town shall be liable for any damage resulting to persons or property by the reason of the breaking of any bridge, sluice or culvert, by transportation on the same of any traction engine, portable piece of machinery, or of any vehicle or load, together weighing eight tons or over, but any owner thereof or other persons engaged in transporting or directing the same shall be liable for all damages resulting therefrom.