General Information

Glossary: H
First Air Date: November 6th, 2011
Last Air Date: July 23rd, 2016
Created By: Joe Gayton, Tony Gayton
Star Casts: Anson Mount, Colm Meaney, Robin McLeavy, Christopher Heyerdahl, Phil Burke, Tim Guinee, Angela Zhou, Byron Mann
Aired On: AMC
Episode Runtime: 60 minutes
Total Seasons: 5 Seasons
Total Episodes: 57 Episodes
Type: Scripted
Status: Ended
Homepage: AMC - Hell on Wheels

Last Updated: Fri, 23 Feb 2024 22:30:50 +0000

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Hell on Wheels


The epic story of post-Civil War America, focusing on Cullen Bohannon, a Confederate soldier who sets out to exact revenge on the Union soldiers who killed his wife. His journey takes him west to Hell on Wheels, a dangerous, raucous, lawless melting pot of a town that travels with and services the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, an engineering feat unprecedented for its time.

Seasons and Episodes

Specials (11 Episodes)

1: Inside Hell on Wheels: Where Season 1 Left off - Aired: 2012-07-19

No overview available.

2: Inside Hell on Wheels: Where Season 2 Left off - Aired: 2013-07-15

Anson Mount and the cast of Hell on Wheels analyze the unanswered questions from season 2.

3: Inside Hell on Wheels: A Look at Season 3 - Aired: 2013-07-22

Anson Mount and the cast of Hell on Wheels give us a taste of what's in store for season 3.

4: Inside Hell on Wheels: A Look at Season 4 - Aired: 2014-07-16

Anson Mount and the cast of Hell on Wheels give fans a taste of what's in store for Season 4.

5: The Golden Spike - Aired: 2016-07-23

Explaining the importance of the golden spike.

6: Series Wrap-up - Aired: 2016-07-23

A look back at season 5.

7: S01 Crashing a Train, From Concept to Camera

Shows the planning and execution of one of the first season's big set pieces.

8: S01 Character Featurettes

Includes portraits of Cullen Bohannon, Elam Ferguson, Thomas Durant, Lily Bell, The McGinnes Brothers, Pawnee Killer and Joseph Black Moon.

9: S01 Episode Featurettes

Gives some background on the following episodes: Pilot; Immoral Mathematics; A New Birth of Freedom; Jamais Je ne T'Oublierai; Bread and Circuses; Pride, Pomp and Circumstance; Revelations; Derailed; Timshel; and God of Chaos.

10: S01 Making-of Featurettes

Offers seven short pieces, including "About Hell on Wheels", "The Guns", "The Wardrobe", "The Meaning of the Railroad", "Building the Train", "Locations and Sets", and "Dirty Medicine".

11: S01 Making of Hell on Wheels

Features quite a few behind the scenes crew, like Director – Executive Producer David Von Ancken and Production Designer John Blackie, talking about what they wanted to achieve with this series. There's some great footage of the sets being built as well as some of the location shooting, some of which looks pretty muddy. It's nice to have the actual crew interviewed at length here rather than the traditional puff piece that focuses solely on the cast congratulating each other for giving such great performances.

Season 1 (10 Episodes)

1: Pilot - Aired: 2011-11-06

A former confederate soldier journeys to the transcontinental railroad to seek vengeance.

2: Immoral Mathematics - Aired: 2011-11-13

Lily encounters natives in the wilderness. Cullen is questioned in regards to his recent actions against others. Meanwhile, Durant continues his push for political gain through his persuasions.

3: A New Birth of Freedom - Aired: 2011-11-20

When Lily goes missing, Durant organizes a search party. A subsidiary request prevents Cullen from his continued search for the sergeant involved in the murder of his wife.

4: Jamais je ne t'oublierai - Aired: 2011-11-27

Cullen's search for the sergeant nears its end; Durant keeps to his hidden agenda while assisting in Lily's recuperation.

5: Bread and Circuses - Aired: 2011-12-04

A bare-knuckle brouhaha between Elam and Cullen is spurred by Durant's latest attempt to deal with the railroad's financial crisis.

6: Pride, Pomp and Circumstance - Aired: 2011-12-11

Durant challenges the Cheyenne to a competition in an effort to bring a halt to ongoing negotiations. Meanwhile, Elam and Cullen try to prevent bloodshed in town.

7: Revelations - Aired: 2011-12-18

With Elam's life in the balance, Cullen must decide how much he’s willing to risk. Meanwhile Durant faces financial ruin as Lily confronts the family of her late husband.

8: Derailed - Aired: 2012-01-01

Durant dispatches Cullen and Elam on a mission of vengeance. Lily struggles to find her place.

9: Timshel - Aired: 2012-01-08

A looming railroad deadline throws Cullen and Lily together; Joseph and Elam deal with what their violent mission has wrought.

10: God of Chaos - Aired: 2012-01-15

In the Season 1 finale, Cullen's past and future collide, impacting his life on the railroad.

Season 2 (10 Episodes)

1: Viva La Mexico - Aired: 2012-08-12

In the Season 2 premiere, Durant and Lily steer the railroad further west, while Cullen and Elam land on opposite sides of the law.

2: Durant, Nebraska - Aired: 2012-08-19

Durant confronts a formidable threat to the rolling city, while a horrific crime leads Lily and Elam to join forces in order to attain justice.

3: Slaughterhouse - Aired: 2012-08-26

Cullen struggles to maintain order while Mickey's and Sean's lives are endangered; Lily and Elam clean up a mess of their own doing.

4: Scabs - Aired: 2012-09-02

A tragedy leads Cullen to defuse an internal threat to the railroad.

5: The Railroad Job - Aired: 2012-09-09

Cullen's past catches up with him and threatens the fate of the railroad.

6: Purged Away with Blood - Aired: 2012-09-16

Despite fighting to save his own life, Durant must try to keep the railroad from going under. Meanwhile, Cullen comes to the aid of an old comrade.

7: The White Spirit - Aired: 2012-09-23

In the aftermath of tragedy, Lily and Cullen struggle to maintain order in Hell on Wheels. Meanwhile, Elam makes plans for the future.

8: The Lord's Day - Aired: 2012-09-30

A new arrival stirs things up in Hell on Wheels, while Eva gets caught between Elam and Mr. Toole.

9: Blood Moon - Aired: 2012-10-07

Cullen prepares for battle while the town celebrates.

10: Blood Moon Rising - Aired: 2012-10-07

Cullen fights to save Hell on Wheels.

Season 3 (10 Episodes)

1: Big Bad Wolf - Aired: 2013-08-10

After a hard winter, Cullen and Elam travel to New York to secure their positions on the railroad as Durant fights for his legacy from prison.

2: Eminent Domain - Aired: 2013-08-10

An unexpected roadblock forces Cullen to make a difficult choice as a reporter arrives in Hell on Wheels. Elam struggles with his new boss.

3: Range War - Aired: 2013-08-17

Cullen and Elam search for their stolen food on the prairie; a stranger's arrival threatens Elam's family.

4: The Game - Aired: 2013-08-24

Cullen and Elam try to secure a new lumber source following a railroad accident; Durant tells Louise a secret about Cullen.

5: Searchers - Aired: 2013-08-31

Cullen helps Elam track down a dangerous criminal; the town prepares to move down the tracks.

6: One Less Mule - Aired: 2013-09-07

Durant files an injunction against Union Pacific, threatening Cullen's position; Elam deals with a dangerous newcomer.

7: Cholera - Aired: 2013-09-14

When a cholera epidemic hits Hell on Wheels, Cullen must find fresh water before his workers die. Durant faces political fallout.

8: It Happened in Boston - Aired: 2013-09-21

After his workers defect to the Mormons, Cullen recruits Durant to help get them back. Meanwhile, Sean and Mickey's past comes back to haunt them.

9: Fathers and Sins - Aired: 2013-09-28

With General Grant's deadline only two days away, a gang of riders attacks Cheyenne while Cullen and Elam pay Durant a visit.

10: Get Behind the Mule - Aired: 2013-10-05

Cullen grapples with consequences while Elam mounts a rescue attempt. Durant receives Gen. Grant and the U.P. board in Cheyenne ahead of the deadline.

Season 4 (13 Episodes)

1: The Elusive Eden - Aired: 2014-08-02

Cullen awaits the birth of his baby, laboring under The Swede's thumb at Fort Smith. Durant deals with the fallout from a railroad accident.

2: Escape from the Garden - Aired: 2014-08-09

As Cullen plans an exit from Fort Smith, he challenges The Swede; when a new adversary arrives, Cheyenne feels his presence.

3: Chicken Hill - Aired: 2014-08-16

Cullen goes back to work on the railroad and butts heads with his new boss. Durant and Campbell battle over a valuable piece of real estate.

4: Reckoning - Aired: 2014-08-23

Cullen deals with trouble at home as he takes railroad matters into his own hands. Campbell makes a move against Durant and Mickey.

5: Life's a Mystery - Aired: 2014-08-30

Cullens's family is at risk when a stranger arrives, stirring up old feelings; The Swede faces the consequences.

6: Bear Man - Aired: 2014-09-06

Following an attack by a bear, Elam struggles to survive in a Comanche village and find his way back to Cheyenne.

7: Elam Ferguson - Aired: 2014-09-13

Cullen attempts to reconnect with Elam upon his return. Durant takes matters into his own hands while putting an old problem to rest.

8: Under Color of Law - Aired: 2014-09-20

Cullen makes a decision to ensure his family's safety. Campbell hires a new federal marshal to clean up the streets.

9: Two Trains - Aired: 2014-09-27

Cullen goes head to head with the new marshal to recover his arrested railroad workers. Campbell confronts Louise over a story.

10: Return to Hell - Aired: 2014-10-04

Cullen, Durant, and Campbell try to negotiate a settlement on how the streets will be policed. An act of terror strikes Cheyenne.

11: Bleeding Kansas - Aired: 2014-11-08

Cullen and Durant fight to save the life of a criminal. Meanwhile, Louise tries to provide support as Ruth copes with a great loss.

12: Thirteen Steps - Aired: 2014-11-15

Cullen grapples with Ruth's unexpected decision; Louise jeopardizes her reputation to fight for a story she believes in.

13: Further West - Aired: 2014-11-22

As the railroad prepares to leave Cheyenne behind in the Season 4 finale, Cullen returns to Fort Smith to retrieve his family.

Season 5 (14 Episodes)

1: Chinatown - Aired: 2015-07-18

Cullen is in California with the Central Pacific Railroad, and must deal with the new workers.

2: Mei Mei - Aired: 2015-07-25

Cullen and Fong find themselves in peril as they transport a locomotive over the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Swede gains Phineas' trust.

3: White Justice - Aired: 2015-08-01

Cullen contends with violence in Chinatown set off by disgruntled railroad workers. Meanwhile, the Swede manipulates Phineas in his plot against the Mormons.

4: Struck - Aired: 2015-08-08

Cullen solves a Chinese labor strike in the wake of violence. Meanwhile, Durant pulls Mickey deeper into Union Pacific business.

5: Elixir of Life - Aired: 2015-08-15

Unexpected violence erupts in Chinatown during the festival of Tin Hau Don; Cullen confronts the Swede; and Durant involves Maggie in his latest scheme.

6: Hungry Ghosts - Aired: 2015-08-22

Cullen and Mei escort precious cargo through the California wilderness; Eva nurses Louise back to health.

7: False Prophets - Aired: 2015-08-29

Cullen and Durant meet with President Grant to discuss the future of the railroad; the Swede puts his plan against the Mormons in action.

8: Two Soldiers - Aired: 2016-06-11

The Swede's murderous rampage on the Hatch homestead results in a long overdue showdown with Cullen.

9: Return to the Garden - Aired: 2016-06-18

Cullen faces life-changing decisions in Utah as Truckee adapts to life without him.

10: 61 Degrees - Aired: 2016-06-25

Cullen's nitroglycerin experiment provides an explosive backdrop for the railroad life in Truckee. Durant's plan turns deadly.

11: Gambit - Aired: 2016-07-02

Mickey's dirty business with Durant leaves him with blood on his hands. Meanwhile, Campbell's return to town complicates Louise's life.

12: Any Sum Within Reason - Aired: 2016-07-09

Chang discovers Mei's secret and forces her to flee Truckee. Meanwhile, Cullen's search for her brings new realizations while exorcising old demons.

13: Railroad Men - Aired: 2016-07-16

The race to finish the railroad comes down to inches, forcing all parties to contemplate the end of the line, and what the future holds for them.

14: Done - Aired: 2016-07-23

The golden spike, government hearings and unpredictable actions mean new beginnings and endings for the survivors.